Dryobates nuttallii

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Family: Picidae · Class: Aves · Order: Piciformes

Nuttall's Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker endemic to California and Baja California, Mexico. Adults measure 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 inches) in length with a wingspan of 25 to 28 cm (9.8 to 11.0 inches) and weigh 30 to 45 grams (1.1 to 1.6 ounces). Males display a distinctive red crown and nape, while females have a black crown with red confined to the nape. Both sexes exhibit black and white barring on the back and wings, creating a ladder-back pattern characteristic of the genus. The face is predominantly black with white stripes above and below the eye, and the underparts are white with black spotting on the flanks and undertail coverts. The species ranges throughout California west of the Sierra Nevada crest and Cascade Range, from Shasta County south to the Mexican border. Populations also occur in Baja California, Mexico. Nuttall's Woodpecker is largely absent from the Central Valley floor but occupies foothill regions and coastal areas. The species reaches elevations up to 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) in southern California mountains but is most common below 900 meters (3,000 feet). Nuttall's Woodpecker inhabits oak woodlands, riparian forests, and mixed hardwood-conifer forests. The species shows strong association with coast live oak, valley oak, and other Quercus species, which provide both nesting sites and foraging substrate. Riparian corridors with cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores also support breeding populations. Urban and suburban areas with mature oak trees can sustain the species, though habitat fragmentation reduces population density. This woodpecker forages primarily on tree trunks and large branches, using its specialized bill to excavate insects and larvae from bark crevices and dead wood. The diet consists mainly of beetles, ants, caterpillars, and other arthropods, supplemented by acorns and other nuts during fall and winter. Breeding occurs from March through July, with peak activity in April and May. Pairs excavate nest cavities in dead branches or snags, typically 3 to 15 meters (10 to 49 feet) above ground. Females lay 3 to 6 white eggs, with both parents incubating for 12 to 14 days. Young fledge after 20 to 22 days but remain with adults for several weeks. Nuttall's Woodpecker is not federally or state listed and maintains stable populations across most of its range. The species benefits from fire management practices that retain snags and dead wood for nesting. Primary threats include habitat loss from urban development, removal of dead trees, and oak woodland conversion. Climate change may affect oak forest composition and distribution, potentially impacting long-term population trends. The species adapts well to human-modified landscapes when mature oak trees are preserved, making conservation of existing oak woodlands and riparian corridors essential for maintaining healthy populations.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.