The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It's free, fun, and easy-and it helps the birds."

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Woodpeckers with red heads

Several species of woodpeckers have red on their heads. Only one of these is named "Red-headed Woodpecker."

Don't get confused! Use our identification quick guide (below) to make sure you are properly identifying woodpeckers for your Great Backyard Bird Count submissions. (Click on the birds' names to read a more thorough species account.)

Red-headed Woodpecker: The only woodpecker with an ENTIRELY RED HEAD east of the Rocky Mountains. 

 adult male Red-headed Woodpecker by James Coe
adult male Pileated Woodpecker by James Coe

Pileated Woodpecker: A large (crow-sized) woodpecker with a RED CREST. 

Northern Flicker: Brown overall, with narrow black bars on upperparts and large round black spots on breast and belly. Adult male has a malar ("moustache") stripe; this stripe is red in the western ("Red-shafted") subspecies, and black in the eastern and northern ("Yellow-shafted") subspecies. "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker also has a red crescent on nape. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Red cap, white cheeks, and a zebra-striped back distinguish this woodpecker. 

Yellow-bellied/Red-naped Sapsucker: Red on the forehead, and males have a red throat patch. 



male Downy Woodpecker by Larry McQueen

Downy Woodpecker/Hairy Woodpecker: Males have a red patch on the back of their head. The only woodpeckers with white backs.