You know, there is just something special about the state of Virginia, a fantastic place for bird watching where the mountains meet the sea. Most people think they know all the common birds, especially the common woodpecker types. They probably see the tiny downy woodpecker at their suet feeder every morning, and hear the territorial call of the red bellied woodpecker ringing through the backyard oaks. The red bellied woodpecker is a noisy character, for sure. But let me tell you, when you start looking deeper into the forests and the quiet parts of the Commonwealth, you find out there are rare Woodpeckers Of Virginia that are basically ghosts. They are tucked away, secretive, and to see one of these special Woodpeckers Of Virginia, well, that is a memory you will keep for life. This post is all about those truly hard-to-find Woodpeckers Of Virginia. The usual downy woodpecker is a pleasure, but the rare ones are a real challenge.

More Common Woodpeckers Of Virginia: A Quick Hello

We cannot talk about the rare ones without giving a nod to the regular crew of Woodpeckers Of Virginia. You have probably spotted the hairy woodpecker, which looks a lot like the smaller downy woodpecker but is truly much bigger and possesses a longer, tougher bill. That hairy woodpecker is a powerful bird, drilling much deeper than the little downy woodpecker. Then there is the prehistoric-looking pileated woodpecker with its huge size and bright red crest. That pileated woodpecker is magnificent, a true wonder of the forest canopy right here in Virginia. Another woodpecker friend we see often is the striking red headed woodpecker, whose entire head is a shock of bright crimson. The red headed woodpecker is simply unmistakable. And who could forget the handsome northern flicker woodpecker, which spends a lot of time on the ground unlike most other woodpecker species? The northern flicker woodpecker is an important ground feeder, and one of the most visible Woodpeckers Of Virginia. The red bellied woodpecker is everywhere, always chasing the smaller birds around.

The Unique Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Before the really rare stuff, we ought to mention the fascinating yellow bellied sapsucker. Now, some people do not always think of this one when they picture a woodpecker, because its feeding style is really different from the common hairy woodpecker or the beautiful red headed woodpecker. A typical woodpecker drills for insects, but the yellow bellied sapsucker drills neat little rows of holes, called sap wells, to drink the tree sap and also eat the insects that get stuck in the sweetness. That yellow bellied sapsucker is smart. It is a migratory woodpecker, so it is only here for part of the year, which makes spotting a yellow bellied sapsucker a special occasion. Every time I see a tree with those perfect little holes, I know a yellow bellied sapsucker has been working hard. The yellow bellied sapsucker shows the great range of Woodpeckers Of Virginia.

The Truly Rare Woodpeckers Of Virginia You Must Search For

This is where the adventure really begins, when we look at the species that truly define the rare birds among the Woodpeckers Of Virginia. You could spend your whole life birding in the state and never, ever see one of these amazing woodpeckers. They are birds of specific habitats, and sadly, their numbers are very low. The hunt for the most uncommon Woodpeckers Of Virginia is a special hobby, and it often involves searching for the highly protected red cockaded woodpecker or the unexpected Lewis’s woodpecker.

The Elusive Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

If there is one woodpecker that is almost mythical in the state, it has to be the red cockaded woodpecker. This little guy is tiny, smaller than even the downy woodpecker, and it has that little red streak, or cockade, on the side of its head, hence the name red cockaded woodpecker. What makes the red cockaded woodpecker so rare is its dependence on very specific, old-growth pine forests. They are very particular about their homes, drilling nesting cavities only in living pine trees that have an infection called heartrot. The common pileated woodpecker or downy woodpecker is much less choosy about its nesting location, which is why we see them more. This makes the habitat for the red cockaded woodpecker extremely limited. I have spent many hours looking for this particular woodpecker without luck, but the search for the red cockaded woodpecker continues! It is a beautiful bird and a vital part of the natural history of the southern Woodpeckers Of Virginia. We must protect every single red cockaded woodpecker habitat.

Lewis’s Woodpecker: A Western Visitor?

Now for a real rarity, a bird that technically should not even be here in the East at all, the stunning Lewis’s woodpecker. This is a western species, found normally in the mountains and forests far away from the eastern United States. Finding a Lewis’s woodpecker in Virginia is shocking, like finding a polar bear in the desert. When one is reported, birders travel across the country to see this out-of-place woodpecker. The Lewis’s woodpecker is a gorgeous woodpecker, too, looking nothing like our native Woodpeckers Of Virginia such as the mighty pileated woodpecker or the beautiful red headed woodpecker. Seeing the Lewis’s woodpecker is a once in a lifetime event for a birder of the East Coast. The appearance of a Lewis’s woodpecker is almost always an accidental sighting, a vagrant bird that has flown far off its regular migratory track. The odds of you seeing a Lewis’s woodpecker are incredibly low, but it is not impossible. That is the magic of the Woodpeckers Of Virginia.

Conclusion: Keep Looking for Woodpeckers Of Virginia

It is quite amazing, is it not, just how many species of woodpecker call this state home or at least visit for a little while. Even the common birds, like the red headed woodpecker and hairy woodpecker, are facing habitat loss and need our help. We must protect all of them, from the common red bellied woodpecker right up to the almost-never-seen red cockaded woodpecker. The landscape of the Woodpeckers Of Virginia is rich, and we ought to keep it that way. Get out there and start your search for the marvelous Woodpeckers Of Virginia. Maybe you will spot the elusive northern flicker woodpecker or one of the truly rare ones! Remember that all these Woodpeckers Of Virginia are important. Keep your eyes to the sky for these lovely Woodpeckers Of Virginia; they are waiting to be found.