# Different Types of Woodpeckers With Pictures You'll Want to Save URL: https://sciencestruck.com/biology/types-of-woodpeckers-pictures Category: Biology Published: 2015-06-10T05:13:00 Updated: 2026-08-16T09:26:24 Woodpeckers are known for their peculiar beaks and the drumming sound they make. They truly are a unique creation of mother nature. We all come across some of the common species at our feeders but did you know that there are more than 180 of them? ### Astonishing Facts about the Drummers! ➨ Woodpeckers are known for their drumming. They drum almost 8,000 - 12,000 times a day. This means that a woodpecker drums almost 20 times in a second. ➨ They have a small brain and a thick skull which protects them from the constant drumming. Also, they have adaptations to prevent the wood pieces from going into their eyes or nostrils. Woodpeckers are a part of the Picidae family, which is a group of near-passerine birds. They are found all around the globe, except in New Guinea, Madagascar, New Zealand, Australia, and the polar regions. The habitats vary, from forests to deserts and rocky areas. All the species are characterized by strong bills which are used for drilling and drumming on trees. They also have a long tongue, up to 4 inches in length. The long tongues help them in extracting insects from the wood. Their diet varies as per the species, from insects and grubs, fruits and nuts, to sap from trees. The nesting is typically done in tree cavities or holes in cactus. All woodpeckers except the piculets and wrynecks have stiffened tails which help them balance while climbing or feeding. There are over 180 species distributed in different genera. The family also includes the sapsuckers, piculets, and wrynecks. Piculets are one of the smallest woodpeckers, but lack a strong bill and the stiff tail. The same goes with the two species of wrynecks. The wrynecks have only 2 species and are included in the subfamily named Jyngiane and the genus Jynx. The piculets belong to the subfamily Picumninae and are divided in different genera, viz, Picumnus, Verreauxia, Sasia, and Nesoctites. The woodpeckers belong to the subfamily Picinae. They are further divided into different tribes. Have a look at the different species of woodpeckers given below. ## Tribe: Dendropicini ### Genus: Melanerpes The genus name Melanerpes has its origin in Latin and means “black creeper”. The members of this genus are all found in the New World. - White woodpecker, _Melanerpes candidus_ - Lewis’s woodpecker, _Melanerpes lewis_ - Guadeloupe woodpecker, _Melanerpes herminieri_ - Puerto Rican woodpecker, _Melanerpes portoricensis_ - Red-headed woodpecker, _Melanerpes erythrocephalus_ - Acorn woodpecker, _Melanerpes formicivorus_ - Yellow-tufted woodpecker, _Melanerpes cruentatus_ - Yellow-fronted woodpecker, _Melanerpes flavifrons_ - Golden-naped woodpecker, _Melanerpes chrysauchen_ - Beautiful woodpecker, _Melanerpes pulcher_ - Black-cheeked woodpecker, _Melanerpes pucherani_ - White-fronted woodpecker, _Melanerpes cactorum_ - Hispaniolan woodpecker, _Melanerpes striatus_ - Jamaican woodpecker, _Melanerpes radiolatus_ - Golden-cheeked woodpecker, _Melanerpes chrysogenys_ - Grey-breasted woodpecker, _Melanerpes hypopolius_ - Yucatan woodpecker, _Melanerpes pygmaeus_ - Red-crowned woodpecker, _Melanerpes rubricapillus_ - Gila woodpecker, _Melanerpes uropygialis_ - Hoffmann’s woodpecker, _Melanerpes hoffmannii_ - Golden-fronted woodpecker, _Melanerpes aurifrons_ - Velasquez’s woodpecker, _Melanerpes santacruzi_ - Red-bellied woodpecker, _Melanerpes carolinus_ - West Indian woodpecker, _Melanerpes superciliaris_ - Grand Bahama West Indian woodpecker, _Melanerpes superciliaris bahamensis_ (extinct: 1950s) ### White woodpecker ### Red-headed woodpecker ### Acorn woodpecker ### Hispaniolan woodpecker ### Red-crowned woodpecker ### Gila woodpecker ### Golden-fronted woodpecker ### Red-bellied woodpecker ### West Indian woodpecker ### Genus: Sphyrapicus - Sapsuckers The name “Sphyrapicus” is a combination of Greek words sphura meaning ‘hammer’ and pikos meaning ‘woodpecker’. All birds have slender bodies, stiff tails, and long wings. The birds feed on the sap of trees and the insects are fed to the young ones. They have a typical flight of alternating quick wing beats and short dips. These 4 birds are found in North America. ### Red-naped sapsucker, S. nuchalis ### Red-breasted sapsucker, S. ruber ### Williamson’s sapsucker, S. thyroideus ### Yellow-bellied sapsucker, S. varius ### Genus: Xiphidiopicus **Cuban Green Woodpecker, Xiphidiopicus percussus** The Cuban green woodpecker is the only species of this genus and only found in Cuba. It has the size and shape of a sapsucker. It has a bright olive-green body with yellow underparts. The males have a red crown and the females have a black crown with white stripes. This species prefers dry or lowland moist forests. ### Genus: Dendropicos - Little grey woodpecker, _Dendropicos elachus_ - Speckle-breasted woodpecker, _Dendropicos poecilolaemus_ - Abyssinian woodpecker, _Dendropicos abyssinicus_ - Cardinal woodpecker, _Dendropicos fuscescens_ - Gabon woodpecker, _Dendropicos gabonensis_ - Stierling’s woodpecker, _Dendropicos stierlingi_ - Melancholy woodpecker, _Dendropicos lugubris_ - Bearded woodpecker, _Dendropicos namaquus_ - Fire-bellied woodpecker, _Dendropicos pyrrhogaster_ - Yellow-crested woodpecker, _Dendropicos xantholophus_ - Arabian woodpecker, _Dendropicos dorae_ - Brown-backed woodpecker, _Dendropicos obsoletus_ ### Cardinal woodpecker ### Bearded woodpecker ### Genus: Mesopicos - Elliot’s Woodpecker, _Mesopicos elliotii_ - Grey Woodpecker, _Mesopicos goertae_ - Olive Woodpecker, _Mesopicos griseocephalus_ ### Genus: Dendrocopos - Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, _Dendrocopos nanus_ - Fulvous-breasted woodpecker, _Dendrocopos macei_ - Freckle-breasted woodpecker, _Dendrocopos analis_ - Stripe-breasted woodpecker, _Dendrocopos atratus_ - Rufous-bellied woodpecker, _Dendrocopos hyperythrus_ - Darjeeling woodpecker, _Dendrocopos darjellensis_ - White-backed woodpecker, _Dendrocopos leucotos_ - Okinawa woodpecker, _Dendrocopos noguchii_ - Amami woodpecker, _Dendrocopos owstoni_ - Great spotted woodpecker, _Dendrocopos major_ - Syrian woodpecker, _Dendrocopos syriacus_ - White-winged woodpecker, _Dendrocopos leucopterus_ - Sind woodpecker, _Dendrocopos assimilis_ - Himalayan woodpecker, _Dendrocopos himalayensis_ - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, _Dendrocopos minor_ - Middle Spotted Woodpecker, _Dendrocopos medius_ - Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, _Dendrocopos kizuki_ ### White-backed woodpecker ### Great spotted woodpecker ### Syrian woodpecker ### Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ### Middle Spotted Woodpecker ### Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker ### Genus: Picoides All the members of this genus are found in North America. The members have a similarity which is the plumage of black and white, and brown and white in some species. Also, most of the males have a red or yellow badge. All of them have a chisel-shaped, straight bill which helps them feed on insects, their main diet. Actually, this genus is in need of revision because there is some confusion in the three-toed species like the Eurasian and American three-toed woodpecker. The recent studies say that 6 species of this genus are shifted to a new genus Leuconotopicus. - Arizona Woodpecker, _Picoides arizonae_ - Downy Woodpecker, _Picoides pubescens_ - Black-backed Woodpecker, _Picoides arcticus_ - American Three-toed Woodpecker, _Picoides dorsalis_ - Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, _Picoides tridactylus_ - Ladder-backed Woodpecker, _Picoides scalaris_ - Hairy Woodpecker, _Picoides villosus_ - Nuttall’s Woodpecker, _Picoides nuttallii_ - Red-cockaded Woodpecker, _Picoides borealis_ - Strickland’s Woodpecker, _Picoides stricklandi_ - White-headed Woodpecker, _Picoides albolarvatus_ ### Arizona Woodpecker ### Downy Woodpecker ### American Three-toed Woodpecker ### Ladder-backed Woodpecker ### Genus: Veniliornis - Scarlet-backed woodpecker, _Veniliornis callonotus_ - Yellow-vented woodpecker, _Veniliornis dignus_ - Bar-bellied woodpecker, _Veniliornis nigriceps_ - Little woodpecker, _Veniliornis passerinus_ - Dot-fronted woodpecker, _Veniliornis frontalis_ - White-spotted woodpecker, _Veniliornis spilogaster_ - Blood-coloured woodpecker, _Veniliornis sanguineus_ - Red-rumped woodpecker, _Veniliornis kirkii_ - Red-stained woodpecker, _Veniliornis affinis_ - Chocó woodpecker, _Veniliornis chocoensis_ - Golden-collared woodpecker, _Veniliornis cassini_ - Yellow-eared woodpecker, _Veniliornis maculifrons_ - Striped woodpecker, _Veniliornis lignarius_ - Checkered woodpecker, _Veniliornis mixtus_ ## Tribe: Malarpicini ### Genus: Campethera These species are found in Africa and areas nearby. - Fine-spotted woodpecker, _Campethera punctuligera_ - Bennett’s woodpecker, _Campethera bennettii_ - Speckle-throated woodpecker, _Campethera scriptoricauda_ - Nubian woodpecker, _Campethera nubica_ - Golden-tailed woodpecker, _Campethera abingoni_ - Mombasa woodpecker, _Campethera mombassica_ - Knysna woodpecker, _Campethera notata_ - Green-backed woodpecker, _Campethera cailliautii_ - Little green woodpecker, _Campethera maculosa_ - Tullberg’s woodpecker, _Campethera tullbergi_ - Buff-spotted woodpecker, _Campethera nivosa_ - Brown-eared woodpecker, _Campethera caroli_ ### Golden-tailed woodpecker ### Genus: Geocolaptes **Ground woodpecker** Ground woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is the only species of this genus and is one of the three ground-dwelling woodpeckers. It is found in Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. It prefers barren and steep areas. Its nests are drilled as tunnels in the vertical bank of water sources. It usually prefers feeding on ants, their larvae, and eggs too. ### Genus: Dinopium - Olive-backed woodpecker, _Dinopium rafflesii_ - Himalayan flameback, _Dinopium shorii_ - Common flameback, _Dinopium javanense_ - Spot-throated flameback, _Dinopium everetti_ - Black-rumped flameback, _Dinopium benghalense_ - Lesser Sri Lanka flameback, _Dinopium psarodes_ ### Common flameback ### Black-rumped flameback ### Genus: Meiglyptes - Buff-rumped woodpecker, _Meiglyptes grammithorax_ - White-rumped woodpecker, _Meiglyptes tristis_ - Black-and-buff woodpecker, _Meiglyptes jugularis_ - Buff-necked woodpecker, _Meiglyptes tukki_ ### Buff-rumped woodpecker ### Black-and-buff woodpecker ### Genus: Hemicircus (3 species; placement in Malarpicini tentative) - Grey-and-buff woodpecker, _Hemicircus sordidus_ - Red-crested woodpecker, _Hemicircus concretus_ - Heart-spotted woodpecker, _Hemicircus canente_ ### Genus: Micropternus **Rufous woodpecker** The Rufous woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) is a brown woodpecker which is found in parts of India, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, and other parts of Asia. It is the only species in the genus. It was formerly placed in Celeus because of the similarities but the DNA tests proved that it was totally different. It is a medium-sized bird with a brown body. It has a slightly curved bill and the males have small red patches near the eyes. ## Tribe: Picini ### Genus: Picus The species of this genus are spread all over Europe, North Africa, and Asia. These are large woodpeckers and have green upperparts. These roam around in forests and open woodlands to feed on insects like ants and termites. - Lesser yellownape, _Picus chlorolophus_ - Crimson-winged woodpecker, _Picus puniceus_ - Streak-breasted woodpecker, _Picus viridanus_ - Laced woodpecker, _Picus vittatus_ - Streak-throated woodpecker, _Picus xanthopygaeus_ - Scaly-bellied woodpecker, _Picus squamatus_ - Japanese green woodpecker, _Picus awokera_ - European green woodpecker, _Picus viridis_ - Iberian green woodpecker, _Picus sharpei_ - Levaillant’s woodpecker, _Picus vaillantii_ - Red-collared woodpecker, _Picus rabieri_ - Black-headed woodpecker, _Picus erythropygius_ - Grey-headed woodpecker, _Picus canus_ - Sumatran woodpecker, _Picus dedemi_ - Black-naped woodpecker, _Picus guerini_ ### Laced woodpecker ### European green woodpecker ### Black-headed woodpecker ### Grey-headed woodpecker ### Genus: Mulleripicus - Ashy woodpecker, _Mulleripicus fulvus_ - Northern sooty woodpecker, _Mulleripicus funebris_ - Southern sooty woodpecker, _Mulleripicus fuliginosus_ - Great slaty woodpecker, _Mulleripicus pulverulentus_ ### Genus: Dryocopus The name Dryocopus comes from the Greek words drus meaning oak tree and kopos meaning cutter. The three species of this genus are large and powerful. These are non-migratory birds and are permanent residents in North and South America, Asia, and Europe. These are mainly black and some reds as a crest. Some also have whites, in different proportions. These feed basically on insects like the beetle larvae from the trees. - White-bellied woodpecker, _Dryocopus javensis_ - Andaman woodpecker, _Dryocopus hodgei_ - Black woodpecker, _Dryocopus martius_ ### Black woodpecker ### Genus: Hylatomus There are 5 species in this genus. All of them are distributed in North and South America. All the species were formerly in Dryocopus but were separated later. Also, the species dusky-winged woodpecker and lineated woodpecker were considered as the same because they had the same name Dryocopus lineatus. - Helmeted woodpecker, _Hylatomus galeatus_ - Dusky-winged woodpecker, _Hylatomus fuscipennis_ - Lineated woodpecker, _Hylatomus lineatus_ - Pileated woodpecker, _Hylatomus pileatus_ - Black-bodied woodpecker, _Hylatomus schulzi_ ### Lineated woodpecker ### Pileated woodpecker ### Genus: Celeus This is a genus with many species, with different features. All of these species are spread in Central and South America. They prefer to inhabit the tropic and subtropical forests. - Cinnamon woodpecker, _Celeus loricatus_ - Scaly-breasted woodpecker, _Celeus grammicus_ - Waved woodpecker, _Celeus undatus_ - Chestnut-colored woodpecker, _Celeus castaneus_ - Chestnut woodpecker, _Celeus elegans_ - Pale-crested woodpecker, _Celeus lugubris_ - Blond-crested woodpecker, _Celeus flavescens_ - Cream-colored woodpecker, _Celeus flavus_ - Rufous-headed woodpecker, _Celeus spectabilis_ - Kaempfer’s woodpecker, _Celeus (spectabilis) obrien_ - Ringed woodpecker, _Celeus torquatus_ - Amazonian black-breasted woodpecker, _Celeus occidentalis_ - Atlantic black-breasted woodpecker, _Celeus tinnunculus_ ### Cinnamon woodpecker ### Blond-crested woodpecker ### Genus: Piculus - Rufous-winged woodpecker, _Piculus simplex_ - Stripe-cheeked woodpecker, _Piculus callopterus_ - Lita woodpecker, _Piculus litae_ - White-throated woodpecker, _Piculus leucolaemus_ - Yellow-throated woodpecker, _Piculus flavigula_ - Golden-green woodpecker, _Piculus chrysochloros_ - Yellow-browed woodpecker, _Piculus aurulentus_ ### Genus: Colaptes - Flickers - Northern flicker, _Colaptes auratus_ - Yellow-shafted flicker, _Colaptes (auratus) auratus_ - Caribbean flicker, _Colaptes (auratus) chrysocaulosus_ - Guadalupe flicker, _Colaptes auratus_ - extinct (c.1906) - Red-shafted flicker, _Colaptes cafer_ - Guatemalan flicker, _Colaptes mexicanoides_ - Campo flicker, _Colaptes campestris_ - Pampas flicker, _Colaptes campestroides_ - Gilded flicker, _Colaptes chrysoides_ - Fernandina’s flicker, _Colaptes fernandinae_ - Bermuda flicker, _Colaptes oceanicus_ (Extinct 17th century) - Chilean flicker, _Colaptes pitius_ - Northern Andean flicker, _Colaptes cinereicapillus_ - Southern Andean flicker, _Colaptes rupicola_ ### Red-shafted flicker ### Campo flicker ### Gilded flicker ### Subgenus: Chrysoptilus - Black-necked woodpecker, _Colaptes atricollis_ - Green-barred woodpecker, _Colaptes melanochloros_ - Golden-breasted woodpecker, _Colaptes melanolaimus_ - Spot-breasted woodpecker, _Colaptes punctigula_ - Bronze-winged woodpecker, _Colaptes aeruginosus_ - Black-crowned woodpecker _Colaptes atriceps_ - Gray-crowned woodpecker, _Colaptes auricularis_ - Crimson-mantled woodpecker, _Colaptes rivolii_ - Golden-olive woodpecker, _Colaptes rubiginosus_ ### Spot-breasted woodpecker ## Tribe: Megapicini ### Genus: Campephilus - Powerful woodpecker, _Campephilus pollens_ - Crimson-bellied woodpecker, _Campephilus haematogaster_ - Splendid woodpecker, _Campephilus splendens_ - Red-necked woodpecker, _Campephilus rubricollis_ - Robust woodpecker, _Campephilus robustus_ - Crimson-crested woodpecker, _Campephilus melanoleucos_ - Guayaquil woodpecker, _Campephilus gayaquilensis_ - Pale-billed woodpecker, _Campephilus guatemalensis_ - Cream-backed woodpecker, _Campephilus leucopogon_ - Magellanic woodpecker, _Campephilus magellanicus_ - Ivory-billed woodpecker, _Campephilus principalis_ (extinct late 20th century) - Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker, _Campephilus (principalis) bairdii_ (extinct late 20th century) - Imperial woodpecker, _Campephilus imperialis_ (possibly extinct late 20th century) ### Magellanic woodpecker ### Genus: Chrysocolaptes - White-naped woodpecker, _Chrysocolaptes festivus_ - Greater flameback, _Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus_ - Crimson-backed flameback, _Chrysocolaptes stricklandi_ - Javan flameback, _Chrysocolaptes strictus_ - Luzon flameback, _Chrysocolaptes haematribon_ - Yellow-faced flameback, _Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus_ - Buff-spotted flameback, _Chrysocolaptes lucidus_ - Red-headed flameback, _Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus_ - Orange-backed woodpecker, _Chrysocolaptes validus_ ### Greater flameback ### Genus: Blythipicus - Maroon woodpecker, _Blythipicus rubiginosus_ - Bay woodpecker, _Blythipicus pyrrhotis_ ### Genus: Gecinulus - Pale-headed woodpecker, _Gecinulus grantia_ - Bamboo woodpecker, _Gecinulus viridis_ ### Genus: Sapheopipo **Okinawa woodpecker** The Okinawa woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii) is the only bird of this genus. This bird is endemic to the Okinawa island in Japan. It is medium-sized and has a dark brown color and red-tipped feathers. It is currently protected in Japan because there are less than 600 woodpeckers left. It is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the IUCN list.