General

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black-and-white barred back, wings, and outer tail. Underparts are white with spotted flanks. Face is black-and-white with white patch above bill. Rear crown patch is red. Female is similar but lacks red patch on head. Juvenile has more extensive crown patch.

Range and Habitat

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Year round range from west of the southern Cascade Mountains, and in the Sierra Nevada from southern Oregon to northern Baja California, Mexico. Occurs in oak woodlands, live oak forests, and chaparral, and in canyons with sycamores, alders, cottonwoods, and bay trees growing along streams lined with live oaks.

Breeding and Nesting

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Three to six white eggs are laid in a hole excavated in a thin, dead branch of an oak or cottonwood, or sometimes a large, thick-stemmed elderberry bush. Eggs are incubated for 14 days by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Eats insects and some acorns; forages in oaks, yucca, and mesquite.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Makes a rolling call of "prreep" or a sharp "pit-it."

Similar Species

Nuttall's Woodpecker: Downy and Hairy woodpeckers have solid white backs and lack spots on breasts and flanks.