New Jersey is home to seven woodpecker species, ranging from the sparrow-sized Downy Woodpecker to the crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker. Whether you’re trying to identify a bird at your feeder or figure out what’s hammering on your siding at dawn, here’s what you need to know about the woodpeckers living across the Garden State.
The Seven Species You’ll Find in New Jersey
The most common woodpecker in New Jersey, and the one you’re most likely to spot in a backyard, is the Downy Woodpecker. It’s also the smallest woodpecker in North America, measuring just 5 to 7 inches long and weighing under an ounce. Look for a white back, a striped black-and-white face, and a very short, stubby bill. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. Downys show up in suburbs, parks, orchards, and woodlands statewide, with a strong preference for deciduous trees.
The Hairy Woodpecker looks almost identical to the Downy but is noticeably larger (about 9 inches) with a proportionally longer bill. If you see what looks like an oversized Downy, it’s likely a Hairy. Both species visit suet feeders and drum on dead branches, and they overlap in habitat across New Jersey’s forests and wooded neighborhoods.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is the one people often misidentify. Despite its name, the reddish wash on its belly is faint and hard to see. What stands out is the vivid red cap running from the bill over the top of the head and down the nape. Its back has bold black-and-white barring, almost like a zebra pattern. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are common year-round in New Jersey and are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, where they’ll eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
The Northern Flicker breaks the typical woodpecker mold. It spends much of its time on the ground, probing lawns and dirt for ants. In the eastern United States, including New Jersey, flickers show bright yellow under the wings and tail (the “Yellow-shafted” variety). They have a brown, barred back, a spotted breast, and a bold black bib. Males sport a black “mustache” stripe. Flickers are common across the state in open woodlands, edges, and suburban yards.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker passes through New Jersey primarily during spring and fall migration, though some overwinter in the southern part of the state. Sapsuckers drill neat horizontal rows of small holes in tree bark to feed on sap and the insects it attracts. Look for a red forehead and throat (in males), a black-and-white striped face, and a pale yellowish belly.
The Pileated Woodpecker is hard to miss. Nearly the size of a crow, with a flaming red crest and powerful bill, it excavates large rectangular holes in dead trees while searching for carpenter ants. Pileateds are less common in suburban settings but are present in mature forests across New Jersey, especially in the northwestern highlands and the Pine Barrens. Their loud, echoing call carries a long distance through the woods.
Finally, the Red-headed Woodpecker rounds out the list, though it’s the hardest to find. More on that species below.
The Red-headed Woodpecker: A Threatened Species
The Red-headed Woodpecker is listed as a threatened species in New Jersey. Unlike the Red-bellied Woodpecker, which merely has a red cap, this bird’s entire head is a deep, unmistakable crimson, set off by a stark white body and black wings with large white patches. It’s one of the most visually striking birds in North America.
Its decline in New Jersey traces back to widespread forest loss in the late 1800s and early 1900s, compounded by a more modern threat: vehicle collisions. Red-headed Woodpeckers feed on the ground and have a habit of swooping low across roads, making them especially vulnerable to traffic. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the species’ survival in the state may be in danger if conditions continue to deteriorate.
These birds prefer open forests with large trees, a closed canopy, and sparse ground cover. Think park-like groves, selectively logged areas, or stands of dead and dying trees created by floods or fire. Because acorns and nuts are critical winter food, they gravitate toward forests with oaks, beeches, and hickories. If you spot one in New Jersey, consider reporting the sighting to eBird. It helps researchers track where remaining populations are holding on.
Why a Woodpecker Is Pecking Your House
If you’ve found a woodpecker hammering on your siding, the first step is figuring out why. The reason determines what you should do about it.
Territorial drumming is the most common cause in spring. Males drum on resonant surfaces to announce their territory and attract mates. Metal gutters, chimney caps, and cedar siding all make satisfying noise. The evidence looks like small, shallow, conical dents in the wood. This behavior is seasonal and usually temporary, but the bird may return to the same spot repeatedly because the sound carries well.
Foraging for insects is the other major reason. If the bird is creating large, deep holes rather than shallow dents, it’s likely hunting insects living beneath your siding. Carpenter bees, for example, bore into wooden shingles to lay eggs and overwinter. Woodpeckers can hear and feel these insects under the surface and will drill through siding to reach them. In this case, the woodpecker is a symptom of a pest problem you may not have known about.
Cavity excavation is less common on houses but does happen, especially in older wooden structures. A woodpecker creating a nesting or roosting hole will carve a round, deep cavity, typically in softer or rotting wood.
How to Deter Woodpeckers Legally
All woodpecker species in New Jersey are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law prohibits killing, capturing, or harassing migratory birds without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You cannot trap, shoot, or poison a woodpecker, and you cannot destroy an active nest. Violations carry real penalties.
That said, you have several legal options for protecting your property:
- Bird netting: The most effective method, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Install lightweight bird netting from the outer eaves down the side of the building, keeping it taut and a few inches from the siding. The netting needs to be maintained, as it can develop holes over time.
- Immediate repairs: Fill and paint any holes the bird has made right away. Leaving damage exposed invites the bird back to the same spot.
- Start early: Begin deterrent measures as soon as you hear drumming and continue well after the woodpecker leaves the area. Consistency matters more than any single tactic.
- Visual deterrents: Owl decoys, hawk models, reflective spinners, and windsocks can help, though the Fish and Wildlife Service notes these devices have inconsistent success. Moving them to new positions every few days keeps them from becoming “background noise” to the bird.
- Sound deterrents: Playing recorded woodpecker distress calls followed by raptor calls can discourage the bird from returning to the area.
One important caution: avoid sticky gels or tacky substances marketed as bird deterrents. These products can coat a bird’s feathers, impairing its ability to fly and stay warm. The Fish and Wildlife Service specifically recommends against them.
If the woodpecker is drilling deep holes to reach insects, address the underlying pest problem. Treating or removing the insect infestation takes away the bird’s reason for targeting your house in the first place.
Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Yard
If you’d rather enjoy woodpeckers than shoo them away, they’re among the easiest birds to attract. Suet feeders are the single best draw, especially in fall and winter when insects are scarce. Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers will visit suet cages regularly, and even Pileated Woodpeckers occasionally show up at feeders stocked with suet or peanut butter blends.
Leaving dead trees standing (when safe to do so) provides natural foraging and nesting sites. Woodpeckers depend on dead wood for both food and shelter, and a single standing snag can attract multiple species. Planting native oaks, hickories, and other nut-bearing trees supports species like the Red-headed Woodpecker that rely on mast crops to get through winter.
Northern Flickers are especially attracted to yards with open ground and ant colonies. If you have a lawn you don’t treat with pesticides, you may already be hosting them without realizing it. Watch for a large, brown bird hopping through the grass in a way that looks decidedly un-woodpecker-like.