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Yellow-bellied sapsuckers make rows of holes in trees to eat the sap that flows out and insects that get trapped in it.

(Clay Wollney)

Seven species of woodpeckers have been seen on Staten Island. Down, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers and the northern flicker are the most often observed members of the woodpecker family. Red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers and pileated woodpeckers have also been seen here now and again.

The three long-time residents

Both the downy and hairy woodpeckers are long-time natives. Of the two, the downy woodpecker is easily the more common. Smaller than most woodpeckers, the downy is slightly larger than the nuthatches and chickadees that it is frequently seen with at bird feeders.

Downy woodpeckers have a classic appearance, though their bills are smaller for the bird's body size compared to other woodpeckers. The wings have a black and white checkered pattern, while the head has bold stripes and there is a white stipe running down the center of the back. Males have a red patch on the back of the head.

The hairy woodpecker has similar markings to the downy, but is almost twice the size, with a stouter bill almost as long as its head. Hairy woodpeckers also have completely white outer feathers on the tail.

The northern flicker is another common woodpecker, which feeds on the ground. Ants are this bird's primary food. It scratches the ground to find them then uses its long barbed tongue to lap them up. When perched in a tree, flickers stand on branches like other birds rather than hug the trunk like typical woodpeckers.

Flickers have an overall brown color, though closer inspection reveals a gray crown with a red crescent on the nape of the neck, while the brown wings have speckles and bars of black. The undersides of the wings and tail are a bright yellow.

Red-bellied woodpeckers have been moving in

Though observed here since the 1950's, sightings of the red-bellied woodpecker remained sporadic until the 1990's. This species has been expanding its range northward and within a few years became the second most common woodpecker here, outnumbering the hairy woodpecker by more than two to one for the past 20 years.

About the size of a robin, its belly is really only vaguely rosy colored at best. The red crest on the head that doesn't extend over the eyes and cheeks and light brown body are much more obvious identifying features. Its wings are primarily black with white markings. Rather than tapping loudly on dead tree trunks the red-bellied woodpecker tends to peck lightly at the bark of dead trees. Since it is also attracted to backyard suet feeders, it is becoming increasingly familiar to casual observers.

Red-headed woodpeckers and yellow bellied sapsuckers are infrequent migrants

Prior to the 1920's the red-headed woodpecker nested on the island, however, habitat loss has caused its range to shrink for more than a century so that now it is only an occasional visitor usually seen during migration. Every now and then a few will stay around for the winter before moving on in the spring. Their fully red head is the obvious feature for identification. Its belly is fully white as are the rear wedges of the otherwise black wings giving it a rather striking appearance.

The yellow-bellied sapsucker is another migrant that occasionally sticks around. The belly does indeed have a noticeably yellow tinge while the body is otherwise black and white. The head is boldly patterned with a bright red forehead. Males also have red throats making it easy to identify the sex of the bird, which is difficult in most other woodpecker species.

This species gets its unusual name from its habit of drilling rows of round holes in a tree's bark. After accomplishing this chore it returns a few hours later to feed on the sap that runs from the wounds as well as the insects that get trapped in the sap.

Pileated woodpecker are a rare and beautiful sight

The largest of the woodpeckers is the pileated woodpecker, which served as the model for the Woody Woodpecker cartoon. This almost crow-sized bird has a large red crest that sweeps off the back of its head and a dark black body with white stripes from its beak to its neck. It pecks loudly on dead trees in search of carpenter ants that are its main food source making uniquely rectangular holes in the process. Their nest holes offer shelter to many other animals including owls, ducks, raccoons and even bats.

Though not often seen here, these magnificent birds have been observed in the Greenbelt and on the south shore in the area around Long Pond and Mount Loretto for the past two years.