Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii), male
Nuttall's Woodpecker, Male

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Dryobates nuttallii

The Nuttall's woodpecker, named in honor of the naturalist Thomas Nuttall, is a bird that adorns the oak woodlands of California with its presence. This species exhibits a striking plumage of black wings and tail feathers, elegantly barred with white. The underparts are a crisp white, adorned with black spots and barring, while the forehead is a solid black with white streaks gracing the sides. A distinctive feature of the adult male is its vibrant red crown, a trait absent in the female but present in juveniles of both sexes. These woodpeckers are equipped with zygodactyl feet and stiff tail feathers, adaptations that enable them to cling vertically to tree trunks with ease. They are relatively small, weighing between 30 to 45 grams and measuring 16 to 18 centimeters in length.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Nuttall's woodpecker, look for the characteristic black and white barring on the wings and tail. The male's red crown is a key distinguishing feature, along with the unbarred black patch at the top of the back. Their vertical foraging stance on tree trunks is typical of woodpeckers and can aid in identification.

Habitat

Nuttall's woodpeckers favor the arid to mesic woodlands, showing a particular preference for oak habitats. They can also be found in riparian areas and chaparral, especially in the southernmost parts of their range where oaks are less abundant.

Distribution

This non-migratory bird's range is primarily within northern California, stretching southward to the northwest of Baja California, Mexico. They inhabit elevations from sea level up to 1,250 meters, and occasionally up to 2,000 meters. Their presence has been noted as far east as Central Wyoming.

Behaviour

Nuttall's woodpeckers are fairly common within their range and are not considered globally threatened. They exhibit a social monogamy with both male and female participating in raising their young. The species is known for its bi-parental care, with new nests being excavated annually.

Song & calls

The vocal repertoire of the Nuttall's woodpecker is quite distinctive, lacking any harmonic quality. Their calls include a simple call note for pair communication, a double call serving a similar purpose but also as a low-threat alarm, a rattle call for territory establishment, and a kweek call primarily used by females prior to copulation. Both sexes engage in drumming, with rolls lasting over a second.

Breeding

Breeding season sees pair bonding from late January to March, with egg-laying predominantly in April and May. Nests are freshly excavated each year in dead trees, with clutch sizes ranging from three to six eggs. The male incubates the eggs at night, while the female takes the day shift. After an incubation period of up to 14 days, fledglings leave the nest around 29 days post-hatch, with parental care continuing for a further 14 days.

Similar Species

The Nuttall's woodpecker bears a close resemblance to the ladder-backed woodpecker in both genetics and appearance. However, hybrids between the two are a rarity.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists primarily of insect larvae, including those of wood borers, click beetles, and ants. These are sourced by tapping and probing into oak tree crevices. Additionally, they feed on sap from holes created by red-breasted sapsuckers and consume various berry seeds.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Nuttall's woodpecker as Least Concern. With a population estimated at over 100,000 individuals, there are no apparent trends indicating a decline. Their habitat within the California Endemic Bird Area does not currently face significant threats.

Nuttall's Woodpecker Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Nuttall's Woodpecker Fun Facts

Did you know?
Nuttall's Woodpeckers are almost always only found in Oak woodland.

Nuttall's Woodpeckers on Birda

Sightings

More Woodpeckers

A photo of a Bay Woodpecker (Blythipicus pyrrhotis) , male

Bay Woodpecker

Blythipicus pyrrhotis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.