Midwest · Central Flyway

Are There Pileated Woodpeckers in Nebraska?

Yes, but uncommon — Pileated Woodpeckers occur in Nebraska year-round in small numbers. Dryocopus pileatus · Picidae

UncommonAbundance
Year-round residentSeasonal status
10Active months
1,597Observations

Is the Pileated Woodpecker Found in Nebraska?

Pileated Woodpeckers do occur in Nebraska, but they are considered uncommon. Encountering one requires patience and the right habitat.

Where to see them instead: the nearest states where Pileated Woodpeckers occur regularly are Kansas (about 220 miles away), Iowa (about 340 miles away) and Minnesota (about 410 miles away).

Often mistaken for Pileated Woodpeckers in Nebraska: Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker and Northern Flicker — these occur regularly in Nebraska, so compare them carefully before concluding you saw a Pileated Woodpecker.

Pileated Woodpecker is a North American backyard bird.

In Nebraska, this species is classified as uncommon. It is a year-round resident, present in all 12 months.

Monthly Activity — Pileated Woodpecker in Nebraska

Relative frequency of observations by month. Higher bars indicate peak periods for this species.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
RegularSeasonalRare

Identification

FamilyPicidae
View full Pileated Woodpecker profile →

Best Time to See Pileated Woodpecker in Nebraska

January
Peak
February
Peak
March
Peak
April
Peak
May
Peak
June
Active
July
Active
August
Peak
September
Peak
October
Peak
November
Peak
December
Peak

Other birds in Nebraska

Birds you might also encounter in Nebraska.

Pileated Woodpecker in other states

Pileated Woodpecker in Nebraska: Quick Facts

The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is an uncommon bird in Nebraska. It is classified as a year-round resident in the state, falling within the Midwest region and the Central Flyway migration corridor.

For birders in Omaha and throughout Nebraska, knowing the seasonal patterns of Pileated Woodpecker can help plan birding trips and backyard feeding strategies.

Use the monthly activity chart above to plan your birding outings, and explore other bird species found in Nebraska using the related birds section.