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