What states have pileated woodpeckers?

Pileated woodpeckers are large woodpeckers that are found throughout much of North America. They are characterized by their large size, black bodies with white stripes on the face, and crest of red feathers on the head. Pileated woodpeckers inhabit mature forests and primarily eat insects, especially carpenter ants, as well as fruits and nuts. Their range covers a significant portion of the United States, though they are absent from some areas.

Northeastern States

In the northeastern United States, pileated woodpeckers can be found in all of the New England states as well as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. They are present in the forests across these states, particularly mature forests with large dead trees that provide nesting sites. Pileated woodpeckers excavate large, rectangular holes in dead trees to create nesting cavities.

Some specific areas where pileated woodpeckers are known to be present in the northeast include:

• Maine – Primarily found in the interior forests away from the coast
• New Hampshire – Present across the state in woodlands
• Vermont – Common in mature forests
• Massachusetts – Most abundant in western parts of the state
• Rhode Island – Found in wooded areas statewide
• Connecticut – Common, can be found in both rural and suburban wooded areas
• New York – Present throughout most of the state apart from NYC
• Pennsylvania – Common in forested regions, including the Pocono Mountains
• New Jersey – Most abundant in the northern half of the state
• Delaware – Found in forest fragments throughout the state
• Maryland – Present across the state apart from the lower Eastern Shore
• Virginia – Common everywhere except for treeless areas in the southeast

Midwestern States

Pileated woodpeckers inhabit every state in the midwestern United States. They thrive in the extensive forested areas and mature woodlands present across much of the region. The range of pileated woodpeckers covers the following midwestern states:

• Ohio
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas

Some of the best places to spot pileated woodpeckers in the Midwest include:

• Ohio – Amish Country, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Shawnee State Forest
• Indiana – Brown County State Park, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
• Illinois – Shawnee National Forest, Morton Arboretum
• Michigan – Upper Peninsula, Hartwick Pines State Park
• Wisconsin – Nicolet National Forest, Menominee River Valley
• Minnesota – Superior National Forest, Whitewater Wildlife Management Area
• Iowa – Yellow River State Forest, Effigy Mounds National Monument
• Missouri – Hawn State Park, Washington State Park
• North Dakota – Turtle Mountains, Pembina Gorge
• South Dakota – Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest
• Nebraska – Indian Cave State Park, Platte River State Park
• Kansas – Wilson State Park, Cross Timbers State Park

Southern States

Pileated woodpeckers are found across much of the southern United States, being present in the following states:

• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Georgia
• Florida
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Tennessee
• Kentucky
• West Virginia

Some of the top spots for observing pileated woodpeckers in the southern states include:

• Oklahoma – Ouachita National Forest, Robbers Cave State Park
• Texas – Big Thicket National Preserve, Lost Maples State Natural Area
• Arkansas – Ozark National Forest, Petit Jean State Park
• Louisiana – Kisatchie National Forest, Chemin-A-Haut State Park
• Mississippi – Bienville National Forest, Holly Springs National Forest
• Alabama – Talladega National Forest, Cheaha State Park
• Georgia – Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area
• Florida – Ocala National Forest, Apalachicola National Forest
• South Carolina – Francis Marion National Forest, Congaree National Park
• North Carolina – Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Linville Gorge Wilderness
• Tennessee – Cherokee National Forest, Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
• Kentucky – Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland Falls State Park
• West Virginia – Monongahela National Forest, Hawks Nest State Park

Western States

In the western half of the country, pileated woodpeckers can be found in these states:

• Montana
• Idaho
• Wyoming
• Colorado
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• California
• Oregon
• Washington

Some prime pileated woodpecker habitat in western states includes:

• Montana – Glacier National Park, Lewis and Clark National Forest
• Idaho – Caribou-Targhee National Forest, McCrosky State Park
• Wyoming – Bighorn National Forest, Curt Gowdy State Park
• Colorado – Roosevelt National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park
• New Mexico – Carson National Forest, City of Rocks State Park
• North Dakota – Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Fort Stevenson State Park
• South Dakota – Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park
• Nebraska – Bessey Ranger District, Indian Cave State Park
• Kansas – Flint Hills, Cross Timbers State Park
• Oklahoma – Ouachita National Forest, Robbers Cave State Park
• Texas – Big Thicket National Preserve, Lost Maples State Natural Area
• California – Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Castle Crags State Park
• Oregon – Mount Hood National Forest, Silver Falls State Park
• Washington – Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park

States without Pileated Woodpeckers

There are a few states in the United States that are outside of the range of the pileated woodpecker. These states either lack sufficient forest habitat or are found in isolated areas not connected to the broader range of the species. The states without pileated woodpeckers are:

• Nevada
• Utah
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Hawaii
• Alaska

Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico lack both the extensive forests and large dead trees required by pileated woodpeckers for nesting and feeding. The barren desert environments that cover much of these states are unsuitable habitat.

North Dakota falls in a gap between the pileated woodpecker’s western and eastern ranges. The few scattered woodlands present are not enough to support these birds.

Hawaii and Alaska are geographically isolated from the contiguous range of the pileated woodpecker, which is limited to the continental United States and southern Canada. The pileated woodpecker is a non-migratory resident species, so it has not reached these non-contiguous states.

Conclusion

In summary, the pileated woodpecker has an extensive range that covers nearly all of the eastern and western United States as well as the forested parts of the Midwest and South. The only states lacking pileated woodpeckers are generally those with little forest habitat such as Nevada and New Mexico or areas disconnected from the primary range like Hawaii and Alaska. These striking birds with loud, woodpecker-like calls are a fixture of mature forests across much of the country.

Table Summary of Pileated Woodpecker Range by Region