Woodpeckers of Michigan is home to different types of woodpeckers as it is covered with heavy forests, extensive dead and dying trees, and abundant food in the form of insects. Forests in Michigan contain various wood-boring insects, ants, and termites, and they form a significant portion of woodpecker birds’ food items.
Many types of woodpeckers favor different spots to live. Michigan is diverse in terms of having the ideal locations, from huge, mature forests for the Pileated Woodpecker to open woods for the Red-headed Woodpecker.
Overview of Woodpeckers in Michigan: Biology & Behavior
The woodpeckers are birds that are experts in drilling and pecking holes in wood. Their activities also include finding insects, delivering messages, and building nests. Over 200 species of woodpeckers live in most of the world’s landmasses, and they also have varying appearances and behaviors.
The woodpeckers also possess distinctive body features that assist in withstanding the powerful thrust of pounding in order not to damage their brains.
Woodpeckers eat different kinds of food. They mainly eat both plants and animals, but they are most famous for eating insects.
Many types of woodpeckers in Michigan are mostly diurnal (day-active), although some species may be in aggregations.
12 Types Of Woodpeckers In Michigan
Discover the 12 unique woodpecker species that make Michigan’s forests and backyards their home.
1. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is an entirely migrant species in Michigan that breeds in mid to northern Michigan, where it is plentiful in the summer.
Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius.
Body Length and Weight: Measures 9 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces.
Wingspan: Wingspan of 16 inches.
Conservation Status: Least Concern.
Status in Michigan: Status of breeding in the northern half; migrating in the south.
Where to Find in Michigan: Typically found in woodlands and forests, especially in regions with abundant maple and birch trees.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker can be seen in the south of the state in autumn and spring when they migrate through. Males and females are distinguished by throat color, where it is red on the male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and white on the female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker:
- Contrasting black and white plumage with a yellow tint on the breast
- Red spots on the head (including a crest for females)
- Present sap wells, orderly aligned, on tree bark.
2. Red-Headed Woodpecker
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the types of woodpeckers in Michigan that is a colorful bird. These Red-headed woodpecker is also referred to as a “flying checkerboard.” Also, Red-headed Woodpecker bird possesses bright colors and a busy appearance, creating a lovely scene in the landscape of Michigan.
Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus.
Body Length and Weight: 9.5 inches, 2.7 ounces.
Wingspan: 17 inches.
Conservation Status: Near Threatened.
Status in Michigan: Resident in southern areas, migratory in northern regions during breeding season.
Where to Find in Michigan: Look for them in open woodlands, golf courses, parks, and recently burned forests, particularly where mature trees are present.
When you explore different types of woodpeckers in Michigan, you’ll find the Red-headed Woodpecker easy to recognize as it sports a completely red head in stark relief with snow-white body and half-black, half-white wings.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Red-headed Woodpecker:
- Bright red head and strong checkered wings
- The capacity to catch flying insects
- Special food storage method in secluded spots in trees.
Wingspan: 13 to 18 inches.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Resident
Where to find in Michigan: In broad-leaved forests, woodlands, and urban areas with tree plantings, especially oak and hickory trees
The male Red-Bellied woodpecker has a red cap plus a nape that is also red. The female Red-Bellied woodpecker has red on their nape and a red splotch above their bill.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker:
- The red belly is hard to see, and not always noticeable; it’s a faint rosy color on the bottom.
- White patches are apparent on the wings when the woodpecker bird flies, which you will see in an undulating flight pattern.
- The woodpecker’s voice is distinctive and is most similar to the sound of “churr-churr-churr”.
3. Lewis’s Woodpecker
The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a rare bird and not just one of the types of woodpeckers in Michigan that you can see all year round. Sighting of it in the spring or early summer is a thrill, though they are rare to find in Michigan.
Scientific Name: Melanerpes lewis
Body Length and Weight: Approximately 10.2–11.0 inches long and weighs around 3.1 to 4.9 ounces. Wingspan: 19.3–20.5 inches
Conservation status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Casual visitor, primarily seen during migrations.
Where to find in Michigan: Open ponderosa pine forests, woodlands along streams, also possibly in orchards or burns.
Lewis’s woodpecker is not as common as the regular types of woodpeckers in Michigan with similar traits and actions, but it is definitely a beautiful woodpecker bird.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of Lewis’s Woodpecker:
- A distinguishing pink belly and dark red face
- Similar to flycatcher behavior when perched
- Similar to a crow when flying, rhythmic and leisurely deep wingbeats
4. Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker is widespread in the south of the United States, notably in Texas, Oklahoma, and in parts of Mexico and Central America. It is one of the types of woodpeckers in Michigan that is very extraordinary.
Scientific Name: Melanerpes aurifrons
Body Length and Weight: Grows to be about 8.5 to 10.5 inches in body length
Wingspan: 16 to 18 inches
Conservation: Least concern.
Status in Michigan: There are rare sightings that occur as it passes through the state.
Where to find in Michigan: The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker is more commonly sighted in southern areas of MI, as well as during seasonal migration.
The Golden-Fronted woodpeckers in Michigan are made distinguishable by a grayish-brown body and head, gold on the nape, and a tuft of the nasal region. The Male Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers have a distinctive bright red head in contrast with their striking black-and-white plumage.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker:
- Black and white barred wings and a black tail
- Golden nape and nasal tufts
- The male has a red central crown
5. Black-backed Woodpecker
The Black-backed Woodpecker resides in boreal forests in Michigan because it enjoys areas that have had recent fires. This medium-sized Black Backed woodpecker is a key species for the ecosystem that enjoys fire-made forests or forests created by bark beetles.
The Black-backed Woodpecker resides in boreal forests in Michigan because it enjoys areas that have had recent fires. This medium-sized Black Backed woodpecker is a key species for the ecosystem that enjoys fire-made forests or forests created by bark beetles.
Scientific Name: Picoides arcticus.
Body Length and Weight: Generally, approximately 9.5 inches in length.
Wingspan: Approximately 16 inches.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Common within its habitat, especially in northern Michigan.
Where to find in Michigan: Mostly found in forests that burned recently or areas that had bark beetles that posed a threat historically.
The male Black Backed woodpecker is readily distinguishable because it possesses a vivid yellow crown patch that is prominent on its own black body.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of Black Backed Woodpecker:
- Solid black back without white.
- Very white on the face and outer tail feathers.
- It is separated from the males by the bright yellow marking on their heads, absent in the adult females.
6. American Three-Toed Woodpecker
The American Three-toed Woodpecker can be identified by its color, as it possesses a black body with white spots on the wings that are barred on the flanks. But most would recognize it by the condition of the males, as their crown bears a bright yellow patch on the head, and would immediately catch your eye.
Scientific Name: Picoides dorsalis
Body length and weight: Approximately 8.3 to 9.1 inches long and weighs around 1.6 to 2.4 ounces.
Wingspan: Around 14.6-15.3 inches
Conservation Status: Least concern
Status in Michigan: Uncommon and primarily found in the northern part of the state, but evaluated in the northern range.
Where to find in Michigan: The woodpecker bird is primarily located in coniferous boreal mountain forests, and while searching, the woodpecker bird will seek conditions immediately followed by disturbance, searching for areas of dead and declining trees.
The habitat of the American Three-Toed Woodpeckers in Michigan is unique, as the species is unique.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the American Three-Toed Woodpecker:
- Solid black back, with white spots and barred flanks.
- Adult males exhibit a crown patch of yellow (adult females do not).
- Foraging marks can be distinctive on tree trunks, such that the tree looks patchwork.
7. Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is one of the tiniest woodpeckers in Michigan in North America. The Downy woodpecker is common in all of Michigan as a regular breeding species, as it is not a migrant.
Scientific name: Picoides pubescens
Body Length and Weight: About 6 to 7 inches long, weighing 0.7 to 1 ounce
Wingspan: 10 to 12 inches
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Resident
Where to Find in Michigan: Found in open forests of deciduous trees, also in city parks, orchards, suburbs, and home gardens.
The Downy woodpecker has white and black stripes on the head. The male and female appear different from each other; the male is red at the rear of the neck.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Downy Woodpecker:
- Miniature in size with a dainty bill, about 1/3 in length of head.
- Black and white striped head with a patch of red on the males.
- White underparts with black upper parts.
8. Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is located in North America, beginning with Alaska, continuing through Canada, and all the way down to the continental United States. These Hairy woodpecker extends as far south as Mexico and Central America. The best part is that these hairy woodpecker possesses a hard bill that is nearly as long as its head, used for drilling through hardwood in search of insects, particularly larvae.
Scientific Name: Dryobates villosus
Body Length and Weight: About 9 to 10 inches in length
Wingspan: About 15 inches
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Resident year-round
Where to find in Michigan: Under great trees in suburbs, in wood lots, and in old forests
The Hairy Woodpecker is black and white in color. The male Hairy Woodpecker is distinguished by its red on the back of the head. A white back with wide white markings on the wings that show when in flight is present in both the male and female Hairy woodpecker.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Hairy Woodpecker:
- Large checkered black and white wings
- Large white back with black rump
- The male has a reddish spot on the nape of the neck, missing in the female
9. Northern Flicker
Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
Body Length and Weight: Approximately 12 inches long and 4.2 ounces.
Wingspan: Up to 20 inches
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Resident, although northern populations are migratory
Where to find in Michigan: Open woods, the edge of forests, and yards
Adding to this identification factor is the explosion of color in the underwing flight feathers: yellow in the East and red in the West. The Northern Flicker is a large, brownish woodpecker with two subspecies. Males have a brown-grey upperside with black barring. The Northern Flicker’s underside is buffy with black spots, with a black bib and white rump.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Northern Flicker:
- Dark, scallop-shaped marks on a light brown body
- Yellow or red flash under the wings, depending on the area
- A black mustache on a man
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpeckers spend their year around the lower part of Michigan. It is occasionally tricky to see the white and black stripe-backed back and the red color on the Red-Bellied woodpecker because their red belly is often obscured from view.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers spend their year around the lower part of Michigan. It is occasionally tricky to see the white and black stripe-backed back and the red color on the Red-Bellied woodpecker because their red belly is often obscured from view.
Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus
Body Length and Weight: Approximately 9.4 inches in length and weighs between 2.0 and 3.2 ounces
Wingspan: 13 to 18 inches.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Resident
Where to find in Michigan: In broad-leaved forests, woodlands, and urban areas with tree plantings, especially oak and hickory trees
The male Red-Bellied woodpecker has a red cap plus a nape that is also red. The female Red-Bellied woodpecker has red on their nape and a red splotch above their bill.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker:
- The red belly is hard to see, and not always noticeable; it’s a faint rosy color on the bottom.
- White patches are apparent on the wings when the woodpecker bird flies, which you will see in an undulating flight pattern.
- The woodpecker’s voice is distinctive and is most similar to the sound of “churr-churr-churr”.
11. Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is the state’s largest woodpecker (third largest in the world), nearly as big as a crow, for it is a large 19 inches long. Its bright red crown and black-and-white stripes make the Pileated Woodpecker well-spread across the eastern United States and much of Canada.
Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
Body Length and Weight: 15.7 to 19.3 inches in length
Wingspan: Up to 30 inches
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Status in Michigan: Year-round resident
Where to Find in Michigan: Mature forests with profuse dead trees and down logs
The Pileated woodpecker has black and white stripes on its neck and a bright red crest, making it very beautiful. Pileated woodpeckers are active during the day, and you can see them more often in winter when it’s easier to see after the leaves have fallen.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Pileated Woodpecker:
- Rectangular tree holes, a distinctive indicator of their foraging activities.
- The loud, powerful song typically drowns out other forest sounds.
- Vibrant red crest and all-black plumage with white stripes on the neck.
12. Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is characterized by distinctive black-and-white striped backs and bright white marks on cheeks.
The male Red-Cockaded woodpeckers are also distinctly notable for a minute, almost imperceptible red stripe called a “cockade” close to the top of the cheek edge.
Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
Body Length and Weight: 7.1-9.1 inches, 1.4-2.0 ounces
Wingspan: 16 inches
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Status in Michigan: Rare because it is almost exclusively found in the southeastern region of the United States.
Where to Find in Michigan: Ancient forests with dead trees and downed logs
The Red-Cockaded woodpeckers dig holes in live pine trees that are weakened by heartwood rot. These holes are used for nesting and to keep away predators. The holes usually have leaking sap around them, which helps to scare off threats like snakes.
Easy-to-Spot Characteristics of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker:
- White and black barred pattern on the back
- Vibrant white cheek stripe
- Red stripe on male cheeks (though hard to observe)
Quick Tips If You Want To See More Woodpeckers In Michigan
- Go early
- Carry binoculars
- Look out for trees with peeling bark or dead branches
- Visit parks known for woodpecker birdlife
- Listen for drum patterns, because often you will hear woodpeckers before you see them.
(Pro tip: Michigan birding pages and park posts sometimes list recent sightings that help narrow down where to look.)
Final Thoughts
Woodpeckers in Michigan are part of everyday life if one knows how to look. They are bold, noisy, and oddly comforting. Whether you are watching a pileated woodpecker chip away at a trunk or spotting a tiny downy woodpecker at your feeder, these woodpecker birds add character to the landscape. If you want a simple start, hang a suet feeder and keep your eyes on the nearest oaks and maples. You will be surprised how often woodpeckers turn up. Visit birdie learning for more such informative content.