Woodpeckers of Japan – Complete Guide to the Main Species

Introduction

Japan is home to a fascinating variety of woodpeckers, from tiny park-dwelling species to powerful forest specialists.
Among the ten or so species recorded nationwide, four are especially common and widely encountered.
This guide introduces these main woodpeckers of Japan, followed by a complete list of all woodpeckers confirmed in the country.

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)

Japan’s smallest and most familiar woodpecker, often found in parks, temple grounds, and light woodlands.
It moves quickly along thin branches, tapping lightly as it searches for insects.
Its small size and approachable behavior make it one of the easiest species for beginners to observe.
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Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

A bold black, white, and red woodpecker that inhabits forests across much of Japan.
Its strong drumming echoes through winter woods, making it one of the easiest species to detect.
Its striking colors and active movements make it a symbolic bird of Japan’s broadleaf forests.
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White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)

A larger, forest-dependent species that prefers mature deciduous woodland.
It shows prominent vertical streaks on the breast and relies on old trunks and decaying wood.
Finding this bird often indicates a healthy, high-quality forest environment.
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Japanese Green Woodpecker (Picus awokera)

A vivid green woodpecker endemic to Japan, easily recognized by its red crown and ringing “kew-kew” call.
It feeds mainly on ants, often working its way up thick trunks with its strong bill and long tongue.
Its bright plumage and loud voice make it one of Japan’s most distinctive forest birds.
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Woodpeckers Recorded in Japan

Below is the complete list of woodpeckers confirmed in Japan.
Only the four major species above are explained in detail, but this overview helps clarify the full diversity of Japan’s woodpecker community.

Regular / Resident Species

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)
Japanese Green Woodpecker (Picus awokera)
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus jessoensis)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Okinawa Woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii)
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

Notes

Regional subspecies exist, and rare vagrant records have been documented, though they are not covered in detail here.

Where to See Woodpeckers in Japan

Urban parks and shrine groves: Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
Deciduous forests of Honshu: Japanese Green Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker
Forests across Japan: Great Spotted Woodpecker, active year-round
Northern mixed forests: high woodpecker diversity including the Grey-headed and Black Woodpeckers
Okinawa forest reserves: restricted habitat for the endangered Okinawa Woodpecker

Author’s Impression

Woodpeckers are essential birds in Japanese birdwatching.
Their unique drumming behavior—striking tree trunks in a way no other birds do—adds a rhythmic pulse to the forest.
Each time I hear that sharp tapping echo through the woods, I feel a special sense of excitement that only woodpeckers can bring.