Woodpeckers in Minnesota: Top 8 Species with Pictures

Did you know that woodpeckers can peck up to 20 times in one second? The speed of how they move their heads sometimes exceeds 15 miles an hour! That drumming often sets woodpeckers apart from most other birds, which is why they’re often sought, photographed, and videoed. If you’re among the woodpecker enthusiasts and live in Minnesota, then you would love to know more about woodpeckers in Minnesota. Those are the eight woodpeckers that you could find in the state if you know where and how to look (or listen!) 1. Downy Woodpecker Scientific name: Dryobates Pubescens Length: 5.5-6.7 inches Weight: 0.7-1.0 ounces Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 inches Downy Woodpecker is the smallest bird on our list but it’s one of the most common sights in the United States. The small-sized woodpeckers are so small that they weigh less than an ounce! They are also smaller than most robins. Author Note:Downy Woodpeckers use that small size to their advantage. They often forage in places where most other woodpeckers (and birds) can’t reach. Description wise, Downy Woodpeckers have a beautiful black and white pattern on their wings and crowns. There’s a red patch on the back of the head which is present only in the male. The rest of the bird is white for the most part. Downy Woodpeckers are bark foragers. If you happen to spot some of them, they’d often be hanging on the barks of trees looking for food. They rely mainly on small insects like ants. In Minnesota, Downy Woodpeckers are a common sight wherever trees are found. That includes your backyard too, especially if it has some bird feeders. Because of their small size, Downy Woodpeckers often join flocks of other birds for protection. They prefer to mix with birds that have the same size likechickadees. Downy Woodpeckers

Did you know that woodpeckers can peck up to 20 times in one second?