Ladder-backed Woodpecker Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Male
Male Nuttall's have a red crown that is farther back on the head than male Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. The barring on the backs of Nuttall's Woodpecker stops on the upper back while it continues up to the neck on Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.
© David M. Bell | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 03, 2017Similar Species
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Female
The barring on the back of Nuttall's Woodpecker stops on the upper back while it continues up to the neck on Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. Nuttall's also have thinner white facial stripes and whiter underparts than Ladder-backed.
© Herb Elliott | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 24, 2017Similar Species
Downy Woodpecker
Male (Eastern)
Downy Woodpeckers lack the Ladder-backed Woodpecker's barred back.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, February 02, 2017Similar Species
Hairy Woodpecker
Male (Eastern)
Hairy Woodpeckers don't have black-and-white barring on their backs like Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.
© Jean-Sébastien Guénette | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 26, 2016Main Species
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Male
Small black-and-white woodpecker. A ladder of stripes goes all the way up the back. Males have a red crown that extends from the eye to the back of the head.
© Edward Plumer | Macaulay LibraryTexas, February 20, 2016Female
Small black-and-white barred woodpecker with streaky sides. Females have a buffy patch in front of the eye and do not have any red markings.
© Eric Gofreed | Macaulay LibraryArizona, December 28, 2016Male
Small woodpecker with a red crown and whitish face. The flanks are streaked and often washed in buff.
© Scott Olmstead | Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 22, 2017Female
Some females have a darker buffy wash on the belly and in front of the eye than others.
© Joan Gellatly | Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 03, 2016Male and female
Agile woodpecker often found foraging on thinner trees and saplings. Males have a red crown that females lack.
© Raul Urgelles | Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 30, 2016Habitat
Found in desert and desert scrub.
© Alejandro Calzada Arciniega | Macaulay LibraryMéxico, August 28, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.