Woodpeckers in Wyoming: Species, Attracting Tips, and Natural Beauty (2024)

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Exploring Wyoming’s woodpeckers is an adventure full of intrigue. With nine species, including the American Three-Toed Woodpecker, Black-Backed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and more roaming through its vast woodlands and forests, there are plenty of opportunities to observe these birds in their natural habitat.

To get a closer look at them while learning how to attract them to your backyard with suet or nest boxes—plus find out what makes Wyoming so special—read on for all you need to know about woodpeckers in this stunning state.

Woodpecker Species in Wyoming

As an ornithologist in Wyoming, I have observed and studied the diversity of native woodpecker species across the state. Over the years, my ongoing surveys and data analysis have revealed the presence of at least 9 species: American three-toed woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, Lewis’s woodpecker, northern flicker, red-headed woodpecker, red-naped sapsucker, and Williamson’s sapsucker.

American Three-Toed Woodpecker

Hunt for these cute three-toed woodpeckers when you’re hiking the mountainous areas of Wyoming, folks. Their northern breeding habitats are shrinking faster than a possum can scurry up a tree. Tap into your inner naturalist and observe their foraging in damaged forests of lodgepole pine and spruce.

Listen for the rattling calls and drumming as they excavate nest cavities. Note the bold black and white plumage and yellow crown markings. Watch them probe bark crevices, feeding on beetle larvae. Appreciate these high-elevation specialists while their specialized habitat remains.

Black-Backed Woodpecker

You’ll notice this charred woodpecker flicking away at the crispy bark in the blackened forest.

1. Prefers severely burned pine forests in Wyoming.
2. Feeds on beetle larvae in dead and dying trees.
3. Uniquely adapted to nest in the charred trunks.

The Black-backed Woodpecker thrives where wildfires have decimated the forest. Its range spans the mountainous regions and forests of Wyoming. This specialist woodpecker plays a vital role in the fire ecology of the region.

Downy Woodpecker

Look around suet feeders for tiny downy woodpeckers that perch and stash seeds while visiting and pecking.

Behavior	Diet	Habitat	Plumage	Nesting
Drum on trees	Insects, spiders	Deciduous forests, parks, yards	White underside with black stripes	Nest cavities in dead trees or posts

The petite downy woodpecker dines on insects and spiders it discovers while pecking tree bark. This smallest woodpecker species sports bold black and white plumage and chisels nest holes in dead trees.

Hairy Woodpecker

You’ve got to keep an eye out for the hairy woodpecker with its larger size as you explore Wyoming’s forests.

• It pounds on trees in a slow, steady beat to communicate.
• It excavates nest cavities in dead trees or limbs.
• It primarily eats insects but also fruit and nuts.

The hairy woodpecker is larger than the downy woodpecker and avoids feeders near human habitation. This black and white woodpecker blends into the shadows as it forages alone or in pairs on tree trunks and branches.

Lewis’s Woodpecker

You’d spot the colorful Lewis’s woodpecker with its pink belly flitting through Wyoming’s conifer forests during spring and summer. Research shows this woodpecker’s unusual behaviors include catching insects midair, storing food in bark crevices, and migrating in winter to the southwest.

To help conserve Lewis’s woodpeckers in Wyoming, protect old-growth ponderosa pine habitat, restrict logging during nesting, and install nest boxes. Appreciate the aerial insectivorous hunting skills of this striking woodpecker species when encountered in Wyoming.

Northern Flicker

You’ll notice Northern Flickers – Wyoming’s colorful, ground-foraging woodpeckers – as they hop around your yard year-round.

• Medium-sized with black-patterned plumage and barred underparts.
• Two variations exist: yellow-shafted in the east and red-shafted in the west.
• Listen for their loud, repetitive wicka-wicka calls and identify them by the salmon-colored underwings.
• They range across Wyoming. Attract them with suet, ants and beetles from the lawn. Provide a water source. Leave dead trees standing. Enjoy their beauty!

Red-Headed Woodpecker

With keen eyes you glimpse the red crown of that busy Red-headed Woodpecker storing acorns galore amidst the pines. The Red-headed Woodpecker’s population is declining largely due to loss of breeding habitat.

These birds prefer open woodlands and savannas with large dead trees for nesting and displaying. Their distinct red heads and white wing patches make identification easy. They cache food extensively in the fall and defend winter stores aggressively from other woodpeckers and competitors.

Providing dead trees and nesting boxes can help support breeding pairs. Though less common at feeders, suet and sunflower seeds may entice them to visit.

Red-Naped Sapsucker

A vibrant male Red-Naped Sapsucker will fill your heart with joy as he relentlessly pecks rows of perfect holes into trembling aspens to release their sweet sap during early spring in Wyoming’s western mountains.

• Sapsuckers have unique tongue adaptations to lap up sap.
• They are found in aspen forests of Wyoming during the breeding season.
• The sapsucker’s diet consists of tree sap, cambium, and insects.
• Tips: Listen for drumming and peek for round sap wells.

Appreciate the Red-Naped Sapsucker’s role in the web of life among Wyoming’s awe-inspiring aspen groves.

Williamson’s Sapsucker

Hanging out in some Wyoming parks and forests during breeding season allows you to spot the Williamson’s Sapsucker, another sap-feeding woodpecker. These brightly-colored woodpeckers drill sap wells into trees and lick up the oozing sap.

They prefer mature aspen forests in the western and central mountains for breeding habitat. Sapsucker numbers are declining in some regions, so protecting their old-growth forest homes is important.

Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Yard

As a woodpecker enthusiast in Wyoming, providing food, shelter, and water sources can attract woodpeckers to your yard. Offer suet and black sunflower seeds in sturdy feeders, leave dead trees or install nest boxes, and plant native fruit-bearing shrubs like dogwood to provide sources of food.

Also, use solar-powered bird baths and fountains to supply a continuous water source that woodpeckers will find appealing.

Offer Suet and Black Sunflower Seeds

Aviancing an Aplomado Falcon feeder with suet and black sunflower seeds by the bank of a wraith attracts woodpeckers to your yard in Wyoming.

1. Suet provides high-fat energy for woodpeckers.
2. Black oil sunflowers are preferred over striped seeds.
3. Choose sturdy suet feeders that accommodate large woodpeckers.
4. Offer suet year-round, swapping out cakes regularly.
5. Experiment with nut butter suet, fruit suet, and mealworm suet options.

Leave Dead Trees

Leaving dead tree snags standing invites woodpeckers to chisel, transforming your yard into a living sculpture. Preserving lifeless tree snags provides crucial wildlife habitat that enhances biodiversity.

Cavity excavators like woodpeckers depend on erect dead trees for nesting, roosting, and feeding. The ecological perks of permitting dead trees to persist include greater insect populations for woodpeckers to forage on, added structural intricacy, and natural microhabitats for numerous species.

Simply said, retaining lifeless trees upright nourishes complete food chains while sculpting nature’s splendor.

Use Nest Boxes

Cycle your timber to provide inviting homes for curious coppersmiths.

1. Structures must be securely fastened, yet allow easy entry.
2. The ideal height is around 10-15 feet off the ground.
3. Some species prefer a closed back, while others like openness.
4. Regularly clean out old nesting material to reduce pests.

With creative nest box designs and proper placement, you can entice woodpeckers to set up residence in your yard. Try different box sizes, materials, openings and heights to attract the various species that live in Wyoming.

Plant Native Fruit-bearing Plants

Grow dogwood, serviceberry, and mountain ash in your yard to provide tasty fruits that will draw in woodpeckers.

Native Plant	Attracts	Planting Tips
Dogwood	Woodpeckers, jays, waxwings	Part shade, acidic soil, mulch
Serviceberry	Woodpeckers, robins, cedar waxwings	Full sun, well-drained soil
Mountain ash	Woodpeckers, waxwings, thrushes	Full sun to part shade, moist soil

Landscape with native plants that provide natural sources of food to sustain woodpeckers and other wildlife. Select bird-friendly native trees and shrubs adapted to your region’s growing conditions.

Provide a Water Source

Place a solar powered bird bath fountain in your yard to attract woodpeckers with soothing, moving water. Solar-powered pumps provide continuous water movement during daylight hours, recharging batteries to run at night.

Strategically placing fountains creates pleasant sounds. Routinely clean solar panels and pumps to maintain optimal efficiency. Position them near natural perches. Solar fountains entice various species while conserving energy.

Thoughtfully designed water features invite avian activity. Investing in technology that harmonizes with nature delights the soul.

Wyoming’s Natural Beauty

Wyoming covers over 97,000 square miles, making it the 10th largest U.S. state. Yet with just over half a million residents, it is the least populated. This sprawling western state of vast plains, mountains, forests and parks contains incredible natural beauty, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton and several other renowned national parks that provide habitats for diverse wildlife.

Size and Population of Wyoming

You’d be amazed at how vast and unpopulated the Cowboy State is.

• Wyoming is the least populated state with 96,000 square miles.
• Wyoming has a vibrant economy that includes:
  • Energy production
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
• Wyoming has abundant wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities.

  The state offers a unique blend of history, culture, and nature.

Geographic Features of Wyoming

From Yellowstone’s geysers to the Grand Tetons’ peaks, Wyoming’s natural wonders inspire awe. You traverse vast plains, soaring mountains, rushing rivers, forests teeming with wildlife, and protected parks bursting with unique features.

Discover extraordinary terrestrial habitats from the alpine tundra’s hardy plants to the sagebrush sea’s elk herds. Experience majestic waterfalls, deep canyons, and geothermal features. Wyoming’s pristine wilderness offers boundless adventures through its diverse terrain and ecosystems.

Appreciating Wyoming’s Woodpeckers

Admire ’em in the wild before they’re gone. Be still to observe woodpecker behavior.

1. Rise early to catch first light and activity.
2. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope to view high tree canopies.
3. Wear camouflage clothing and move quietly through habitats.
4. Note locations of cavities, sap wells, and food caches.

Contribute to conservation efforts like building nest boxes, planting native vegetation, and supporting bird sanctuaries. Photograph the beauty and behaviors of these fascinating birds. The varied woodpecker species need help preserving their pine forests, burned areas, riparian habitats, and open woodlands in Wyoming.

In-Depth Information

You can gain comprehensive knowledge about Wyoming’s diverse woodpecker species by studying detailed range maps showing their habitats across the state, as well as their unique characteristics like the Lewis’s woodpecker’s aerial insect-catching behavior and the red-headed woodpecker’s food storage adaptations.

Careful examination of reference materials will provide you with scientific data on each species’ appearance, diet, breeding behaviors, habitat preferences, and other fascinating details.

Range Maps for Each Woodpecker Species

You’ll find detailed range maps for each Wyoming woodpecker species in bird field guides, showing their distribution across the state. These maps indicate the habitats, elevations, and regions each woodpecker inhabits based on scientific observations.

Comparing the maps reveals differences in range and preferences. The Lewis’s Woodpecker, for example, is present only during spring and summer in western forests, while the Hairy Woodpecker resides year-round across the state.

Understanding woodpecker ranges and movements provides insight into their ecological roles and conservation needs.

Unique Characteristics of Specific Woodpeckers

They have a crazy cool corkscrew tongue that can extend over 2 inches to snatch insects and larvae from deep inside trees. Lewis’s Woodpecker, with its purplish-red feathers, is known for its unique characteristics.

Acorn Woodpeckers gather acorns in oak woodlands, while Red-Bellied Woodpeckers use their barbed tongues to feed on insects, tree frogs, eggs, and sap. Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest in North America with their chisel-like bills and red crests.

White-Headed Woodpeckers have white caps and nest in dead tree stumps for protection.

Birds Choice Cake Suet Feeder Taupe Brown

You’ve got a quality suet feeder for attracting Wyoming’s woodpeckers with that sturdy, double-cake Birds Choice model in taupe brown. Specially designed for larger woodpeckers like Pileateds, its built-in tail prop provides needed support as they feed.

The recycled poly-lumber construction makes it weather-resistant and durable over years of use.

Offering two suet cakes allows ample high-calorie fare for frequent woodpecker visits. Position it in the yard near trees or snags where woodpeckers naturally forage. The taupe color blends into natural surroundings.

Fill it with no-melt suet, enjoy watching colorful woodpeckers drawn to your yard, and appreciate Wyoming’s remarkable bird diversity.

Solar Bird Bath Fountain Pump

Get the AISITIN solar fountain pump for your bird bath to attract those woodpeckers with the soothing sound of moving water.

The solar-powered pump provides tranquil, flowing water that woodpeckers find inviting. It runs continuously during the day and stores power to operate a few hours at night. Adjust the 6 sprayers to create your desired water flow. Keep the solar panel and pump clean to prevent clogging issues.

Check suction cup stability to prevent overflow. With a bit of maintenance and adjustment, this eco-friendly solar fountain can enhance your garden and attract wild birds like Wyoming’s woodpeckers.

• Frequent cleaning prevents clogs from dirt and debris.
• Ensure the solar panel gets plenty of direct sunlight.
• Use distilled vinegar to remove hard water deposits.
• Check and tighten suction cups regularly for stability.

The AISITIN solar fountain pump delivers the soothing sound of moving water to make your yard more attractive for Wyoming’s amazing woodpeckers.