Nuttall's woodpecker is a species of woodpecker named after naturalist Thomas Nuttall in 1843. They are found in oak woodlands of California and are similar to the ladder-backed woodpecker in both genetics and appearance.
Region
California and northern Baja California
Typical Environment
Primarily found throughout lowland and foothill oak woodlands of California, extending into northern Baja California, Mexico. It frequents riparian galleries with sycamores and willows, mixed chaparral edges, and mature suburban parks with large oaks. It generally avoids dense conifer forests and high-elevation alpine habitats. Pairs maintain territories year-round and use natural cavities and dead limbs across its range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named after naturalist Thomas Nuttall, this woodpecker is closely related to the ladder-backed woodpecker and the two can hybridize where their ranges meet. It is a California specialty, thriving in oak woodlands where it drums on resonant branches to communicate. Its foraging helps control bark-boring insects, benefiting oak ecosystems.
Male and chick in a nest
Male in Sylmar, California, USA
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with undulating, bounding flight
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs, maintaining year-round territories. Monogamous pairs excavate nest cavities in dead or decaying wood and both sexes incubate and feed the young. Drumming is used for territory advertisement and pair communication.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are sharp, dry pik notes and rattling series. Drumming is a rapid, even roll on resonant wood, often repeated from prominent perches.
