Hairy Woodpecker Calls: Learn their THREE most common sounds (2024)

You are going to learn the 3 most common calls and sounds that Hairy Woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus villosus) make, including what it sounds like when they drum against a tree!
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Here are the THREE most common calls that Hairy Woodpeckers make:
00:15 SOUND #1: “peek”
The most common call is a short, sharp “peek.”
This call is very similar to a Downy Woodpecker, but a Hairy Woodpecker sounds slightly louder, more energetic, and lower pitched.
Some people compare this call to the sound of a squeaky dog toy!
00:40 SOUND #2: The whinny
While in the woods, listen for a sound that is best described as a rattle or whinny.
This sound is also very similar to a Downy Woodpecker, but a Hairy Woodpecker whinny stays at one pitch, whereas a Downy Woodpecker descends in pitch at the end.
Many times you will hear the “peek” call and the whinny made in succession.
LISTEN TO A DOWNY WOODPECKER HERE TO HEAR THE DIFFERENCE: • Video
01:04 SOUND #3: Drumming
Their rapid drumming lasts about 1 second and is very even-paced. It can be heard year-round by both males and females.
Interestingly, when you hear a drum, it’s not an attempt to drill into wood, but rather a way for woodpeckers to communicate with each other.
Hairy Woodpeckers drum for many reasons, such as defending and establishing territories, courtship, calling for their mate, and as an alarm call.
Credit for Recordings
Macaulay Library at the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology.
Recordists: Geoffrey A. Keller, Wil Hershberger, Jay McGowan
Images used under license
from Shutterstock.com

[@LittleJordanFarm]

I have all 3...I'm blessed to live with my back yard being the woods. Love your videos...I got to watch one of my blue Jay's yell like a hawk the other day to scare chickadees away from food. Rotten booger. But I also got warned back in the spring by a blue jay that I was walking up on a black snake! 😊 blessings

[@samanthathrush7233]

Heard this bird today and confirmed on my Merlin Bird ID app. Lancaster, Ohio

[@megansfo]

I feed woodpeckers, and have lots of Hairys. I love the loud squeak!

[@rb032682]

great info. Thanks.

[@OspreyFlyer]

I had 7 Hairy Woodpeckers along a 2.89 miles route Sunday in NE Oklahoma. That's the highest frequency / density I've ever had anywhere. Usually have one "regular" on that route. Been birding that area almost 20 years.

[@bgates1128]

Thanks for posting! This is super helpful.

[@elizabethstille5351]

I've had all three birds calling and drumming here in Northwestern Ontario. A joy to see and hear.

[@virginianemith]

Sound 1 is our signal to put out the peanut butter. The pair that visits loves peanut butter. Nice video !

[@notovercome]

I've heard all 3. What I learned from this video was that the drumming sound is actually a woodpecker calling its mate. Cool!

[@user-mt2xy7li1i]

Уважаю птицу Дятел, какая Полезная и Приятная!

[@michelewise1479]

Valparaiso Indiana. 10 miles south of Lake Michigan

[@timmysteph]

Thank you scott!

[@marcelaviegas472]

I have heard number 3 here in Buenos aires, we have woodpeckers in parks .beautiful video

[@teresanewcom-be8eg]

In the past month I have seen and heard a small brownish grey woodpecker near my home in Pomona, ca. your birds sounds confirmed it for me. Thank you!

[@mariarivera1348]

Love it

[@akg1722]

July 30 2023 I am sitting on my porch in Charleston, West Virginia. I have been hearing this guy, but did not see him until today. He is much larger than the other two varieties of woodpeckers we have. When I played the video he did talk back! I had been saying the call we heard sounded like a monkey and that's how you describe it. Thank you for your video! If we get a picture I will post it.

[@LindaWunderlin-qp2sb]

Heard this morning in Fort Wayne Indiana

[@janspencer476]

We have had a pair close to yard for years. We have sunflower and suet cakes for them

[@stuff2047]

You should do a comparison video with the hairy, downy, northern flicker, and red bellied woodpecker as far as their long call goes (if that makes sense). I have all 4 in my backyard ( more recently the hairy) and have the darnedest time trying to figure out which it is when they do the longer call.

[@oh_k8]

Esp the hairy and downy. Theyre more difficult to tell apart.

[@dianthis]

Have one out back now. The first call I always thought was a Robin! I’ve heard while looking at Robins make a similar sound?

[@femkeklijn4802]

No I have never heard this before as I live in the Netherlands. But it comes kind of close to our "Bonte Specht" sound. I think it is far family of it. We have 3 kinds of Bonte Specht, small, middel and big ( klein, middel, groot in dutch).

[@michelewise1479]

I have 2 mails and a female tonight on my red pepper seed cylinder.

[@sampatel5509]

At one time I could always tell Hairy from a Downy call's, not sure if I can now.

[@kjblaske]

H’s, D’S, and RB’s, frequent my dbl cake suet feeder. Can hear pileateds, but have not seen them.

[@antlerking69]

I have 5 woodpeckers here, if you include the Northern Flicker. Still no drumming on metal gutter sounds?😂

[@tylermcintyre1454]

Tyler Mac I think it’s drumming time quick get everyone together in here

[@TerkaBuszptaki2021]

👍🐦🐦

[@ScooBdont]

I’m curious, after the Hairy Woodpecker’s drum another, answering drum responds. Do you think it’s a different type? It sounded different to me.

[@rebeccasmith2583]

I live in fruitland North Carolina 00

[@brittanywolfe6384]

🐦🐦

[@MDK3192]

3/18/24 Chicago, IL Merlin ✔️

[@rebeccasmith2583]

I have a pet female woodpecker like this name Rachel

[@sampatel5509]

Pay attention to the pattern on the back of the head, you will be able to tell individual bird's. Males are easier.

[@sampatel5509]

Forgot, Downy's also.

[@markedone2252]

Which one is which?

[@advinhaqueme]

🤔🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦