Bird Guide

Arizona Woodpecker vs White-headed Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus arizonae)

Arizona Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus arizonae

Small41 gForest

Arizona woodpeckers are nearly identical to Strickland's woodpeckers, growing to be about 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm) in length. Their plumage is mainly brown and white in coloration, brown on top with a dark rump with white underparts speckled with brown spots. Arizona woodpeckers usually have white bars on their wings, and have two white stripes across their face which join with another white bar on their neck. Male Arizona woodpeckers also have a red patch on the nape of their head which is lacking on females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0
White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus)

White-headed Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus albolarvatus

Medium61 gForest

It has a black body (approximately 20 cm (7.9 in) long) and white head. It has white primary feathers that form a crescent in flight. Males have a red spot at the back of the head.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sarah Stierch · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Arizona Woodpecker and White-headed Woodpecker.