Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 41,926 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Hairy Woodpecker: observations by month (U.S.)
About Hairy Woodpecker
The hairy woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found over a large area of North America. It is approximately 250 mm (9.8 in) in length with a 380 mm (15 in) wingspan. With an estimated population in 2020 of almost nine million individuals, the hairy woodpecker is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern. Some nomenclature authorities, such as the eBird/Clements checklist, place this species in the genus Dryobates.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Hairy Woodpecker by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,338 | July | Jun–May |
| Washington | 2,798 | June | May–Apr |
| New York | 2,517 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Minnesota | 2,217 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 2,121 | June | May–Apr |
| Vermont | 1,836 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Colorado | 1,656 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 1,628 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Ohio | 1,444 | May | Sep–Jun |
| New Mexico | 1,435 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Michigan | 1,379 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Illinois | 1,372 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 1,317 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 1,310 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Maryland | 1,149 | February | Aug–Jun |
| Virginia | 1,092 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Maine | 1,061 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Arizona | 995 | August | Mar–Jan |
| New Jersey | 720 | March | Oct–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 706 | May | Dec–Oct |
| Utah | 494 | July | Mar–Nov |
| North Carolina | 464 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Alaska | 454 | June | May–Apr |
| Tennessee | 442 | May | Sep–Jun |
| Connecticut | 438 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Indiana | 391 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Montana | 380 | August | Feb–Dec |
| Texas | 312 | January | Oct–Jun |
| Missouri | 311 | January | Sep–Jun |
| Idaho | 272 | July | Mar–Nov |
| Wyoming | 252 | August | May–Oct |
| Georgia | 226 | April | Nov–Sep |
| Iowa | 193 | May | Aug–Jun |
| Nevada | 193 | August | Jun–Oct |
| South Dakota | 185 | June | May–Sep |
| Nebraska | 176 | May | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 158 | April | Jan–May |
| West Virginia | 156 | June | Aug–Jun |
| Florida | 151 | March | Oct–Aug |
| Kentucky | 149 | April | Jul–May |
| Rhode Island | 149 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 146 | April | Mar–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 126 | January | Sep–Jun |
| Arkansas | 125 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Delaware | 113 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Kansas | 96 | April | Sep–May |
| North Dakota | 88 | June | Oct–Jul |
| Alabama | 85 | September | Sep–Feb |
| Louisiana | 72 | April | Mar–May |
| Mississippi | 38 | January | Dec–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Woodpeckers)
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hairy Woodpecker?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to March.
Where is Hairy Woodpecker most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, New York.