Birds
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Dryobates nuttallii · also called Nuttall's woodpeckers
Drilling into an oak branch rather than a desert cactus, Nuttall’s woodpecker shares its barred black-and-white back with the ladder-backed woodpecker but keeps almost entirely to California’s oak woodland instead of arid scrub.
Overview
Nuttall’s woodpecker, Dryobates nuttallii, is a barred-backed woodpecker native to oak woodland habitat found almost entirely within California. Its close resemblance to the desert-dwelling ladder-backed woodpecker, strong dependence on oak trees for feeding and nesting, and status as one of the more geographically restricted North American woodpeckers make it one of the most habitat-specific members of its genus found anywhere in the country.
A desert look-alike that chose the oaks instead
Sharing nearly the same barred back pattern as the ladder-backed woodpecker, Nuttall’s woodpecker has settled into an entirely different habitat, trading arid desert scrub for the oak woodland that defines so much of California’s landscape.
Status
Least Concern, remaining present across suitable oak woodland habitat throughout California.
Nuttall's Woodpecker: common questions
How is Nuttall's woodpecker different from the ladder-backed woodpecker?
Both species share a similar black-and-white barred back pattern, but Nuttall's woodpecker favours California oak woodland while the ladder-backed woodpecker prefers arid desert scrub, a clear habitat split between two closely related species.
Where is Nuttall's woodpecker found?
This species is confined almost entirely to California, with only a small extension of its range into adjacent areas, making it one of the more geographically restricted woodpeckers in North America.
How can you tell a male Nuttall's woodpecker from a female?
Males show a red crown patch that females lack, a straightforward way to distinguish the sexes in this oak-woodland specialist.
Why is Nuttall's woodpecker so closely tied to oak trees?
This species depends on oak trees for both feeding and nesting, a dependence that ties its overall population closely to the continued health of California's oak woodland habitat.