Family Picidae

Woodpeckers

18 species from the family Picidae.

Typical settings for this family#

Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/8
Size15–50 cm

18 species#

Downy Woodpecker Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens Northern Flicker Northern FlickerColaptes auratus Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus Pileated Woodpecker Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus Hairy Woodpecker Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus Acorn Woodpecker Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifrons Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris Nuttall's Woodpecker Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii Gila Woodpecker Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialis Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruber Lineated Woodpecker Lineated WoodpeckerDryocopus lineatus Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalis Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis Black-backed Woodpecker Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticus Williamson's Sapsucker Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideus

Field-craft#

  • Dead snags are favourite drumming posts.
  • Expose for the bright head patches; forests are dim, so raise ISO before dropping shutter speed.
  • Trunk-clinging birds sit in shade: watch your shutter speed and use zone AF to avoid focusing on bark.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources