Nuttall's Woodpecker

Dryobates nuttallii

This small black-and-white striped woodpecker taps out a distinctive drumming pattern across California's oak woodlands.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

Nuttall's Woodpecker is a small, striking bird with a black and white barred back, wings, and tail. The underparts are white with black spots on the sides. The bill is gray, the eyes are reddish, and the feet and legs are a dark olive-gray.

Males have a distinctive red crown patch, while females lack this feature, with a solid black cap. A faint reddish wash may be visible on the heads of some females.

Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller plumage and, in males, a smaller red crown patch. The bird's plumage remains consistent throughout the year, with no seasonal variations.

Size

Length

16.5cm to 18cm

Wingspan

33cm to 36cm

Weight

30g to 45g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Red

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Nuttall's Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Nuttall's Woodpecker can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Nuttall's Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Nuttall's Woodpeckers are endemic to California and northern Baja California, Mexico. They inhabit oak woodlands, riparian forests, and mixed oak pine forests, showing a strong preference for areas with abundant oak trees.

These birds are year-round residents throughout their range, with no significant seasonal movements.

They are commonly found in suburban areas and parks within their distribution, adapting well to human-modified landscapes that retain suitable tree cover.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,700 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Nuttall's Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons