# Nuttall's Woodpecker (*Dryobates nuttallii*) Nuttall's Woodpecker is a small bird that loves to tap on trees to find tasty bugs. With its black and white feathers and a little red on its head, it’s easy to spot in the trees! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Nuttall's Woodpecker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Picoides_nuttallii_-Olive_View%252C_Sylmar%252C_California%252C_USA_-female-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike & Chris, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Picoides_nuttallii_-Olive_View%252C_Sylmar%252C_California%252C_USA_-female-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Nuttall's Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird featuring a distinctive black-and-white 'ladder-back' pattern. Males sport a red patch on the back of their head, absent in females. It also has strong black stripes across its white face, which helps differentiate it. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Dryobates ## Interesting facts - A Nuttall's Woodpecker can peck trees over 20 times per second without getting a headache! - Both mom and dad Nuttall's Woodpeckers take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm! - They often create a tiny 'pantry' by wedging insects into bark cracks for later snacks! - This woodpecker's drumming isn't just for food; it's also how they talk to each other! ## Special abilities - **Cranial Shield:** Nuttall's Woodpecker has a unique skull structure and strong neck muscles that help them absorb powerful pecking shocks without injury. - **Adhesive Grip:** Nuttall's Woodpecker can cling vertically to tree trunks and even hang upside down using their zygodactyl feet and stiff tail feathers. - **Extended Snag-Tongue:** Nuttall's Woodpecker can extend its long, barbed tongue far beyond its beak to retrieve insects hidden deep within tree crevices. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 33-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-7 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days ## Diet & Feeding These woodpeckers mostly eat insects they find in trees, but also enjoy some nuts and berries! - **Primary Foods:** Bark beetles, Wood-boring larvae, Ants, Caterpillars, Acorns, Wild berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Valley Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/valley-oak) (*Quercus lobata*) — Nests and forages within the bark and branches. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Is a common predator of adult Nuttall's Woodpeckers. - **Eats:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — Forages for ants and their larvae on tree bark. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nuttall's Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Nuttall's Woodpecker? 18-20 cm ### What is Nuttall's Woodpecker's wingspan? 33-35 cm ### How much does Nuttall's Woodpecker weigh? 0.03-0.05 kg ### How long does Nuttall's Woodpecker live? 4-7 years ### How fast can Nuttall's Woodpecker move? 45 km/h ### What does Nuttall's Woodpecker eat? These woodpeckers mostly eat insects they find in trees, but also enjoy some nuts and berries! ### Where is Nuttall's Woodpecker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [Monte Bello Open Space Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monte-bello-open-space-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Sonoma Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Nuttall's Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nuttalls-woodpecker) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Nuttall's Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nuttalls-woodpecker)