The great slaty woodpecker is the world’s largest and heaviest living woodpecker, reaching up to 58 centimeters (22.8 inches) in length and weighing as much as 563 grams (1.24 pounds). In terms of wingspan, however, the record belongs to the black woodpecker, the largest species in Europe, which spans up to 84 centimeters (33.1 inches) despite being slightly shorter and lighter overall.
Other giants, like the pileated woodpecker in North America and the Magellanic woodpecker in South America, dominate their respective regions with powerful builds and bold appearances.
This article explores the largest woodpeckers that can still be observed in the wild today, using verified maximum measurements for body length, weight, and wingspan. Each entry also highlights key physical features, size-related adaptations, behavior, range, and habitat, offering a closer look at the most imposing members of the woodpecker family.
The final section reflects on two legendary species, the imperial and ivory-billed woodpeckers, that once surpassed all others in size and may yet survive in remote forests, just out of reach.
Great Slaty Woodpecker
Mulleripicus pulverulentus
- Wingspan: Around 80 cm (31.5 in).
- Weight: As heavy as 563 g (1.24 lb).
- Body length: Up to 58 cm (22.8 in).
- Where found: Southeast Asia – in lowland and foothill primary forests, including dipterocarp and evergreen types.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable.
The great slaty woodpecker is the largest living woodpecker, reaching up to 58 centimeters (22.8 inches) in body length and weighing as much as 563 grams (1.24 pounds). Although exact wingspan measurements are scarce, its size and wing structure suggest it reaches about 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) across.
This towering species is built for power and reach, with an elongated neck, long tail for stability, and a massive chisel-like bill adapted for prying into wood. Though impressive in stature, its calls are unexpectedly soft, usually a rolling 3-5 note cackle. Combined with its slow, deliberate foraging style and crow-like flight, its silhouette is both distinctive and unmistakable.
Native to the forests of South and Southeast Asia, the great slaty woodpecker is found from the Himalayan foothills to Borneo and the Philippines. It inhabits mature, semi-open deciduous and evergreen lowland forests, especially those with large, old trees. The species forages in family groups, often targeting nests of ants and termites in the trunks and limbs of living trees, and sometimes supplements its diet with fruit.
The great slaty woodpecker relies heavily on intact forest ecosystems and is highly sensitive to disturbance. Rapid deforestation for plantations, selective logging of large nesting trees, and widespread forest degradation, particularly in Borneo, Sumatra, and Indochina, are driving its decline. Like other threatened woodpecker species dependent on old-growth forests, its long-term survival hinges on preserving mature habitat. Without effective habitat protection, the world’s largest living woodpecker may face a future as precarious as that of its extinct cousins.
Black Woodpecker
Dryocopus martius
- Wingspan: As wide as 84 cm (33.1 in).
- Weight: As heavy as 400 g (14.1 oz).
- Body length: Up to 55 cm (21.7 in).
- Where found: Europe and temperate Asia – in mature coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The black woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Europe, reaching up to 55 centimeters (21.7 inches) in body length and weighing as much as 400 grams (14.1 ounces). With a wingspan of 84 centimeters (33.1 inches), it also has the widest recorded wingspan of any extant woodpecker.
This crow-sized species is strikingly all black, with a bold red crown – full in males and reduced to the hindcrown in females. It possesses a long, powerful bill supported by muscular neck adaptations for chiseling deep into trees. Its flight is straight and deliberate, lacking the bounding motion typical of smaller woodpeckers, and its calls are loud and piercing, often a repeated “kree-kree-kree” or screech-like cry during flight.
Widespread across continental Europe and parts of Asia, the black woodpecker inhabits mature forests from Spain to Japan, including boreal, montane, and mixed woodlands. It prefers open yet extensive forests and can occur from lowlands to elevations over 2,400 meters (7,900 feet). A non-migratory species, it feeds primarily on carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, using its strength to penetrate deep into tree trunks. It excavates large nesting cavities, often in living trees, that are later used by a wide array of secondary cavity nesters, making it a keystone species in forest ecosystems.
Although its global population is stable, local threats from logging and forest fragmentation remain a concern in some parts of its range, especially where old-growth trees are removed or not allowed to reach maturity.
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
- Wingspan: As wide as 75 cm (29.5 in).
- Weight: As heavy as 350 g (12.3 oz).
- Body length: Up to 49 cm (19.3 in).
- Where found: North America – in mature deciduous and mixed forests, from Canada to the southeastern United States.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The pileated woodpecker is the largest confirmed woodpecker species in North America, reaching up to 49 centimeters (19.3 inches) in length and weighing as much as 350 grams (12.3 ounces). It has a broad wingspan of up to 75 centimeters (29.5 inches), with northern populations tending toward the upper size range in wing, tail, and bill length.
This striking bird is mostly black with a bold white neck stripe and a vivid red crest. Its long, chisel-like bill is nearly the length of its head, perfectly suited for hacking into decayed wood. The flight is strong but slightly undulating, and its resonant drumming and loud, whinnying calls echo through mature woodlands.
Widely distributed across forested regions of Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific Northwest, the pileated woodpecker favors mature hardwood forests but also adapts to wooded suburbs and parks if large trees are available. It feeds primarily on carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae, excavating deep, rectangular holes in standing dead trees or fallen logs. These excavations serve as shelter for many other forest species, earning the pileated woodpecker a vital ecological role.
Although its populations once declined due to widespread logging, the species has rebounded in the last century with forest regrowth and is now considered stable. It remains a powerful symbol of North America’s temperate forests and a keystone in maintaining woodland health.
White-Bellied Woodpecker
Dryocopus javensis
- Wingspan: Around 75 cm (29.5 in).
- Weight: As heavy as 350 g (12.3 oz).
- Body length: Up to 48 cm (18.9 in).
- Where found: Tropical South and Southeast Asia – in evergreen and moist deciduous forests with tall dead trees.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The white-bellied woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers in Asia, reaching up to 48 centimeters (18.9 inches) in body length and weighing as much as 350 grams (12.3 ounces). Its estimated wingspan is around 75 centimeters (29.5 inches), comparable to its northern relatives, the black and pileated woodpeckers.
This species is mostly black with a pale belly and striking pale eyes. Males have a bright red crest, while females have a darker crown. Its long bill is well adapted for hammering into decaying wood. The bird produces loud drumming and calls that vary from sharp “kuk” notes to drawn-out, rising whistles. Despite its size, it is usually seen alone or in pairs and is surprisingly discreet when foraging.
Distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the white-bellied woodpecker inhabits tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, often favoring large dead trees near rivers or forest edges. It feeds primarily on ants, wood-boring grubs, and other insects extracted from beneath bark, but will occasionally consume fruit. This species is non-migratory and typically nests in high cavities excavated into dead trunks, sometimes reusing the same tree across years.
While not globally threatened, many island subspecies have declined or gone extinct due to forest loss, hunting, or local disturbance, as seen in the presumed extinction of the Cebu population in the Philippines. Protection of mature forest stands remains essential for the long-term survival of this widespread but habitat-sensitive woodpecker.
Magellanic Woodpecker
Campephilus magellanicus
- Wingspan: Over 70 cm (27.6 in).
- Weight: As heavy as 369 g (13.0 oz).
- Body length: Up to 45 cm (17.7 in).
- Where found: Southern Chile and southwestern Argentina – in mature Nothofagus and mixed temperate forests.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The Magellanic woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in South America, reaching up to 45 centimeters (17.7 inches) in length and weighing as much as 369 grams (13.0 ounces). Its wingspan is estimated at over 70 centimeters (27.6 inches), comparable to that of its northern counterparts. Based on average body weights, it may also be the heaviest woodpecker across the entire Americas.
Males are striking with an entirely crimson head and crest, while females are all black with a recurved crest and a splash of red at the bill base. The bill is long and pale, contrasting sharply with the otherwise dark plumage. Its calls range from nasal cries to rattling series of notes, and its drum is a powerful, echoing double knock typical of the genus Campephilus.
This species is a year-round resident of southern Chile and Argentina, where it inhabits mature temperate forests dominated by southern beech (Nothofagus) and Austrocedrus species. It forages on trunks and fallen logs in search of wood-boring beetle larvae, spiders, and other insects, and occasionally supplements its diet with fruit, sap, or even small vertebrates. Magellanic woodpeckers often live in territorial pairs or family groups, with young sometimes remaining to assist in territorial defense.
Habitat loss due to logging, forest fragmentation, and conversion to plantations has caused local declines, especially in central Chile. However, the species persists in several protected areas and is legally protected in both range countries.
Ashy Woodpecker
Mulleripicus fulvus
- Body length: Around 40 cm (15.7 in).
- Where found: Sulawesi and nearby islands (Indonesia) – in tropical lowland and montane forests.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The ashy woodpecker is a large Southeast Asian species, measuring around 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) in length. Endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding islands, it is the only large woodpecker found in that region.
Males have a red face extending to the mid-crown, contrasting with a slate-grey back and wings, buff underparts, and a long black bill. Females lack red and instead display pale spotting on the head. The iris is pale yellow and surrounded by a grey orbital ring, contributing to a piercing appearance. Though not as loud as some other large woodpeckers, the species gives a slow, deliberate drum and a laugh-like trill during vocal displays.
Ashy woodpeckers are found in both lowland and montane tropical forests, including closed-canopy primary forests and secondary growth with tall trees, from sea level up to 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). They forage on trunks and large limbs, feeding on termites, caterpillars, and other insects, and occasionally raid termite nests on the ground.
The species is typically observed alone, in pairs, or small family groups. Nesting activity has been recorded in cavities excavated in dead trees or dead sections of living ones, with the male playing a prominent role in excavation. The species is considered stable and relatively widespread across its native range.
Robust Woodpecker
Campephilus robustus
- Weight: As heavy as 294 g (10.4 oz).
- Body length: Up to 37 cm (14.6 in).
- Where found: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina – in humid Atlantic and Araucaria forests.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The robust woodpecker is a large South American species, reaching up to 37 centimeters (14.6 inches) in length and weighing as much as 294 grams (10.4 ounces). Though smaller than the Magellanic woodpecker, it shares the same genus (Campephilus) and possesses a similarly imposing build.
Males have a fully red head and crest with a small white ear spot, while females feature a bold white moustachial stripe. Both sexes have pale buff backs, black wings with cinnamon-spotted flight feathers, and heavily barred underparts. Their long, horn-colored bill is adapted for chiseling into large tree trunks in search of wood-boring insects.
Native to southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina, the robust woodpecker inhabits humid Atlantic and Araucaria forests, ranging from sea level to elevations of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet). It strongly prefers undisturbed forest with large, mature trees and tends to avoid heavily degraded areas unless substantial tree cover remains.
The species is highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation and forest disturbance. It is present in several protected areas, but more research is needed on its breeding biology and ecological requirements to support long-term conservation.
Pale-Billed Woodpecker
Campephilus guatemalensis
- Weight: As heavy as 282 g (9.9 oz).
- Body length: Up to 38 cm (15 in).
- Where found: Mexico to Panama – in tropical evergreen, deciduous, and pine-oak forests.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The pale-billed woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species in Central America, reaching up to 38 centimeters (15 inches) in body length and weighing as much as 282 grams (9.9 ounces). While the nominate form is widespread, the northern subspecies C. g. regius, found in eastern Mexico, is reportedly slightly larger.
This species features a long, ivory-yellow bill and a bold red crest in males; females differ by having a black crown, throat, and forecrown. Both sexes have dark upperparts with a distinctive white “V” formed by stripes along the neck and back. Its double-rap drumming is slow and resonant, and its loud calls help locate it in dense lowland forest.
This species ranges from eastern and southern Mexico to western Panama, favoring a mix of tropical lowland forests, deciduous woodlands, mangroves, and pine-oak forests at elevations up to 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). It feeds primarily on wood-boring insects found in the trunks of large trees, which are also critical for nesting.
Though considered widespread and not currently threatened, the pale-billed woodpecker is highly dependent on mature forests and disappears from areas that are heavily logged or cleared. In Mexico, it is listed under special protection due to ongoing habitat pressures, and its long-term stability may rely on the preservation of large forest tracts throughout its range.
Crimson-Crested Woodpecker
Campephilus melanoleucos
- Weight: As heavy as 281 g (9.9 oz).
- Body length: Up to 36 cm (14.2 in).
- Where found: Panama and across tropical South America – in humid lowland forests and forest edges with tall trees.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The crimson-crested woodpecker is a large and powerful species, reaching up to 36 centimeters (14.2 inches) in length and weighing as much as 281 grams (9.9 ounces). It has a long, ivory-colored chisel-like bill and distinctive plumage: males are nearly all red-headed with a pale patch near the bill and a small cheek spot, while females display a bold black-and-white facial pattern with a broad white stripe extending down the neck.
Both sexes show a white “V” on the back, dark upperparts, and cinnamon-barred underparts. Their drumming is a loud, resonant double knock, and they emit a variety of chattering vocalizations.
This species is widespread from Panama to northern Argentina, occurring in a wide range of lowland tropical habitats. It is most often found in humid forests, riverine woodlands, and mature secondary forests, but can also inhabit plantations and semi-open areas if large trees remain. The crimson-crested woodpecker is typically seen singly or in pairs, foraging high on trunks or large limbs for insects hidden under bark.
Although it remains common in many areas, ongoing deforestation has fragmented large tracts of forest throughout its range. The species is adaptable, but still depends on tall trees for nesting and foraging, making continued habitat loss a long-term concern.
Andaman Woodpecker
Dryocopus hodgei
- Weight: As heavy as 255 g (9.0 oz).
- Body length: Up to 38 cm (15 in).
- Where found: Andaman Islands (India) – in evergreen and semi-evergreen lowland forests, including forest edges with tall trees.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable.
The Andaman woodpecker is a large island species, reaching up to 38 centimeters (15 inches) in length and weighing as much as 255 grams (9.0 ounces). It resembles the white-bellied woodpecker but lacks any pale belly and is darker overall, with slate-grey to black plumage and a vivid red crest. Males also have a red crown and malar stripe, while females show darker facial tones.
Both sexes have pale yellow irises and long, black bills. Juveniles appear duller and browner, with brown eyes and traces of juvenile head feathers. Its calls are sharp, piercing, and typically delivered in short bursts.
Endemic to the Andaman Islands of India, the Andaman woodpecker inhabits tropical moist lowland forests, including evergreen, semi-evergreen, and partially cleared areas with tall trees. It is most often seen in pairs or small groups, foraging high on trunks and large branches but occasionally descending to the ground to feed on ants. Nesting occurs in dead trees between 6 and 14 meters (20 to 46 feet) above the ground.
Though still found across several islands, habitat pressure from expanding human populations, logging, and land use change has caused a continuing decline in both range and numbers. With the largest known subpopulation likely under 1,000 mature birds, it is one of the rarest and most geographically isolated woodpeckers in the world, and remains a conservation priority within the Andaman region.
Giant Woodpeckers Lost In Time
While this article has focused on the largest living and confirmed woodpeckers in the world, two remarkable species deserve mention for their unmatched size – both members of the Campephilus genus and both likely lost to history, though not entirely beyond hope.
The imperial woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis), endemic to the high-elevation pine forests of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental, was the largest woodpecker ever recorded. Reaching up to 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) in length, weighing nearly 700 grams (24.7 ounces), and with a wingspan of around 90 centimeters (35.4 inches), it dwarfed every other species.
It foraged by stripping bark from dead trees and was often observed traveling in family groups, a behavior that may have increased its vulnerability to hunters. Logging, forest poisoning, and targeted persecution led to a rapid decline. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1956, documented on film in Durango – the only footage that exists of this magnificent bird. Subsequent unverified reports have surfaced, but none have withstood scrutiny.
The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), slightly smaller but still immense, was once found in the swamp forests of the southeastern United States and in parts of Cuba. It measured up to 53 centimeters (20.9 inches) in length, weighed around 570 grams (20.1 ounces), and had a wingspan of around 80 centimeters (31.5 inches).
Widespread deforestation and logging in the 19th and 20th centuries reduced its habitat to fragments. The last widely accepted U.S. sighting was in 1944, but scattered reports and audio recordings have continued into the 21st century. A 10-year study published in 2022 presented new evidence from Louisiana, including drone footage and trail-camera images. Though still unconfirmed, the species remains a subject of active search efforts in remote bottomland forests.
These two woodpeckers, whether extinct or still surviving in remote forests, stand as symbols of both the peak of woodpecker diversity and the vulnerability of the habitats they depended on.
