Texas Woodpecker Migration

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
red-naped sapsucker woodpecker perched on a tree

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Texas Woodpecker Migration

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
red-naped sapsucker woodpecker perched on a tree

This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links.

There are ten woodpecker species in Texas, but only four species are migrators. In this article, I’ll reveal those four woodpecker species that migrate as well as the ones that don’t.

For each migrating woodpecker, I included photos and descriptions to help you identify them, diet and habitat information so you can tell if you’re surrounded by an area they might live, feeder food they love so you can entice them to your yard, and details of their migration behavior so you know when they’re expected to be where. Lastly, you’ll find range maps illustrating their exact locations so you know which ones to keep an eye out for.

Why Woodpeckers Migrate

Like many other wild birds, some woodpecker species migrate twice a year. According to World Migratory Bird Day, the reason birds migrate is “to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding, and raising their young”.

Scientists believe birds may also migrate due to genetic predisposition or a genetically driven urge to migrate.

Birds migrate to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding, and raising their young.

World Migratory Bird Day

Texas Woodpeckers that Migrate

The four Texas woodpecker species that migrate are listed below followed by photos, descriptions, diet, feeder food, habitat, and detailed migration information.

By the way, sapsuckers and flickers are part of the woodpecker family.

  1. Northern Flicker
  2. Red-Headed Woodpecker
  3. Red-Naped Sapsucker
  4. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

1. Northern Flicker

Red-shafted northern flicker
Red-shafted northern flicker. Photo by Kathy Overfield.
Northern flicker
Yellow-shafted northern flicker. Photo by Mike Carmo.

Appearance: A large bird about 12.5″ long. They have brown backs with black bars, a black crescent on the upper chest, and white with black spots on the belly and underparts.
• In the eastern part of their range, they are referred to as “yellow-shafted northern flickers” and have bright yellow underwings and undertail. They have a gray crown, tan face, and a red patch on the nape. The male has a black swipe on his cheek, the female does not.
• In the western part of their range, they are referred to as “red-shafted northern flickers” and have pink underwings and undertail, brown crown, gray face, and crown & nape are brown. The male has a red swipe on his cheek, the female does not

Diet: Insects, especially ants.

Feeder food: Hulled peanuts and suet.

Habitat: Open areas near trees.

Migration: Northern flickers are migrators. Scientists believe the timing and duration of their migration from the breeding range to their winter range are dependent on weather. They generally migrate at night and travel in large but loose flocks of up to 100 or so birds.
Year-round range: While northern flickers make parts of Texas their year-round home, many migrate further inland for winter. How wonderful for all residents of Texas as you get to see this amazing woodpecker for a season!
Breeding range: Northern flickers depart Texas in Spring and head north to Alaska, Canada, and inland parts of their year-round range in Washington, Oregon, and California for breeding.
Winter range: While northern flickers make parts of Texas their year-round home, many migrate further inland for winter. How wonderful for all residents of Texas as you get to see this amazing woodpecker for a season!

Range Map

Northern flicker range map
Northern flicker range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

2. Red-Headed Woodpecker

red-headed woodpecker
Red-headed woodpecker. Photo by Shawn Conlon

Appearance: Red-headed woodpeckers are medium-sized birds about 9″ long with a red head, black back, white rump, chest, and belly. Also has white patches on its wings, black tail, and gray legs and bill. The female is the same as the male.

Diet: Insects, fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Feeder food: Suet and hulled peanuts.

Habitat: During the breeding season, they prefer open woodlands especially when ample deciduous trees are present, as well as short-grass meadows, pastures, or even golf courses. In the winter they can be found in tall grass prairies with plenty of oak trees and anywhere a mass of acorn crops are present.

Migration: Some, but not all, red-headed woodpeckers are migrators. In spring they’ll remain in their year-round range for breeding or head west and north into Canada to reproduce. In fall, especially when the supply of acorns wains, they’ll migrate south back to their year-round range and if crops are really poor, southwest into Texas.
Year-round range: While red-headed woodpeckers make part of Texas their year-round home, many migrate further inland for winter. How wonderful for all residents of Texas as you get to see this amazing woodpecker for a season!
Breeding range: Some red-headed woodpeckers breed in the year-round range in Texas while others head west and north – as far north as southern portions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada, and as far west as central Montana. Few reach the southeastern portion of Quebec.
Winter range: While northern flickers make parts of Texas their year-round home, many migrate further inland for winter. How wonderful for all residents of Texas as you get to see this amazing woodpecker for a season!

Range Map

Red-headed woodpecker  range map.
Red-headed woodpecker range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

3. Red-Naped Sapsucker

red-naped sapsucker woodpecker perched on a tree
Red-naped sapsucker.Image by Diana Roberts from Pixabay

Appearance: Red-naped Sapsuckers’ heads are striped with black, white, and bright red. Bright red also encompasses their cap, throat, and back of the neck. The belly is spotted black and white, with a dark yellow color. Females are the same except they have a white patch on their chin – males’ chins are red. Juveniles have a brown cap and a brown color on their belly and head.

Diet: Tree sap, arthropods (ants, caterpillars, mayflies, beetles, mothers), fruits, berries, and seeds.

Feeder food: Suet.

Habitat: Mixed forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, orchards, and wooded areas by streams.
Year-round range: Eastern California, southcentral Nevada, western Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Breeding range: Their breeding range includes the Canadian provinces of British Columbia (southeastern) and Alberta (southern), as well as eastern Washington, northeast Oregon, Idaho (except southwestern), the western halves of Montana, Wyoming, & Colorado, and northern New Mexico, northeast California, northern Nevada, Utah, and northern New Mexico.
Winter range: Red-naped sapsuckers migrate TO western Texas and how exciting is that?! While this species has a year-round range and breeding range outside of the state, Texas residents get to enjoy them in winter.

Migration: Red-naped sapsuckers are short-range migrators. While a small population of this species remains in the year-round range all seasons, most migrate north into southern Canada for breeding, and as far south as Mexico for winter.

Range Map:

Red-naped sapsucker range map

Red-naped sapsucker range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

4. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied sapsucker climbing side of tree
Yellow-bellied sapsucker. Image by iTop Loveliness from Pixabay

Appearance: Small bird about 8-9″ long with a checkered back. They have a red forehead, crown, and chin. The chest and belly are tan to yellow and have white wing patches. The Female is similar except she has a white marking on her chin.

Diet: Berries and fruit, bast (inner bark of a tree), few insects.

Feeder food: Suet.

Habitat: They prefer densely wooded areas with living trees (most woodpeckers prefer dead trees).

Migration

Right around mid-September through October, yellow-bellied sapsuckers migrate south for the winter and a fair amount of them end up in Texas! What an exciting time for Texas residents to enjoy a new species of woodpecker in their neck of the woods. Since all good things come to an end, yellow-bellied sapsuckers leave Texas around the April-early May timeframe and begin their migration north in search of ideal nesting conditions.

Range Map

Yellow-bellied sapsucker range map.
Yellow-bellied sapsucker range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Texas Woodpeckers that Don’t Migrate

We explored the four woodpecker species that are migrators. Now it’s time to know the six Texas woodpeckers that do not migrate. They remain in their year-round range all seasons of the year or if they do move, it’s a very short distance such as a few miles. Either way, they do not leave Texas.

  1. Acorn Woodpecker
  2. Arizona Woodpecker
  3. Golden-fronted Woodpecker
  4. Hairy Woodpecker
  5. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
  6. Pileated Woodpecker

In Conclusion

Texas woodpeckers are an interesting bunch. Some are called woodpeckers, some sapsuckers, and others flickers – but they’re all part of the same family.

Most Texas woodpeckers don’t migrate but four of them do. They include the northern flicker, the red-headed woodpecker, the red-naped sapsucker, and the yellow-bellied sapsucker.

What an amazing family of birds Texas has to enjoy. As widespread as woodpeckers are we should all be able to enjoy them in our neck of the woods. If not year-round, then perhaps when they’re visiting for a season or just passing through.

Hope you enjoyed it. Happy birding!

More than 25 years ago, Tammy put her first bird feeder outside her kitchen window. Since then she learned how to attract wild birds to her backyard. Studying the meaning & symbolism of wild birds is also a passion of hers. Read more about Tammy