These striking birds are predominantly black and white with wonderful patches of red all have beaks designed to dig for insects in the bark of trees. Their hammering, bright calls and flight patterns make this family easy to spot. The diet of woodpeckers, which nest and roost in cavities--especially in dead trees and snags--consists mainly of insects, berries, nuts, and seeds collected from trees and shrubs. Northern Flickers can be found feeding on ground insects such as ants. Sapsuckers drill very small holes in trees to feed on sap. Woodpeckers can perform a great service by eating insects harmful to trees, such as woodborers and bark lice, and creating cavities in dead wood for cavity nesting birds.
Seven species of woodpeckers are regularly found in our Northern Virginia area:
Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest in the family. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/
Hairy Woodpeckers are a little larger and look remarkably similar to Downy Woodpeckers. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/
Here is some help telling Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers apart.
Northern Flickers can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers but they prefer to find food on the ground. Ants are their main food. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/
Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest and loudest of the family. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/
Red-headed Woodpecker, more rare in our area. are adept in catching insects in the air
Red-bellied Woodpeckers https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (in winter) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (in winter) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-bellied_Sapsucker