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Dryobates villosus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Hairy Woodpecker
Synonym(s): Picoides villosus, Leuconotopicus villosus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Florida native
A common resident of mature wooded areas throughout Florida and most of the United States except for central Texas and various areas in the western states. Also found across Canada except for the most northern areas. The range extends into the Bahamas, Mexico and much of Central America.
Appearing very similar to the smaller Downy Woodpecker. Hairy Woodpeckers can most readily be distinguished by the longer bill, which is nearly as long as the head. They have white bellies and are black above with many white markings, these being rows of white spots along the wings and a broad vertical white patch down the back. The head is back with two white stripes, one each above and below the eye. Males have a red patch on the back of the head.
Dryobates villosus is a member of the Picidae - Woodpeckers and Wrynecks family.
Other species of the Dryobates genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Dryobates borealis - RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER
Dryobates pubescens - DOWNY WOODPECKER
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds page for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 18, 2025
