March 7, 2026: The Woodpeckers of Kleinstuck
It’s early March. The snow has melted, and the ground is wet and muddy. The days are lengthening, and the sun begins to poke through the clouds. Some birds have returned to my neighborhood (hearing the song of the American Robin at twilight is one of my favorites), and we had our first round of thunderstorms last night.
It’s such a great time to go birding. It’s as if the entire natural world is awakening. Birds begin staking their territory, building nests, singing, finding mates. Chipmunks awaken from their deep sleep. Sap begins cycling through the trees.
One of the most exciting families of birds to watch this time of year are the woodpeckers. Observing their unique characteristics, such as posture, diet, flight pattern, physical traits, and coloration, makes for a great morning of birding. Not to mention that they are very active this time of year, and can be seen in great numbers!
For our hike, we met at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center, and got to know this family of birds a bit more before we set out on the trail. We learned that there are 217 species of woodpeckers worldwide, 77 of them in North America, and seven of them in southwest Michigan. We learned about each of the seven species, what makes them unique, and how to identify them in the field. With our minds and eyes in woodpecker mode, we headed outside to begin the hike.
Learning indoors before the hike.
Right away in the parking lot we heard and saw a Red-shouldered Hawk fly overhead, followed shortly by seven Sandhill Cranes. Even before we entered Kleinstuck we could tell it was going to be a productive morning!
Approaching the entrance to Kleinstuck, we heard a Downy Woodpecker and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The Red-shoulder Hawk continued calling, circling high above the marsh. A few years ago a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks built a nest in Kleinstuck, and I wonder if they will do so again.
Upon entering the woods, we intently observed a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers interested in each other, perhaps forming a pair bond. Elsewhere, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers were playfully interacting with each other. The woodpeckers were out, and we were thrilled to study their antics!
On the Hunt for Woodpeckers! 📸 Seth Messer
Red-bellied Woodpecker. 📸 Seth Messer
We made our way around the marsh, spotting more woodpeckers; a Hairy Woodpecker inspecting a dead log, the call of a Northern Flicker in the distance, and towards the end of the hike, the distinct call of the Pileated Woodpecker; North America’s largest woodpecker. This species has also nested in Kleinstuck regularly, and must be claiming their territory. We ended up spotting and identifying five of the seven possible woodpecker species.
Hairy Woodpecker. 📸 Seth Messer
Other birds of note that we saw were the White-breasted Nuthatch, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, an Eastern Phoebe (who must have just arrived; the earliest recorded date for this species in Kalamazoo County is February 28), a White-throated Sparrow, and of course, many male Red-winged Blackbirds in the marsh, singing atop the reeds.
Red-tailed Hawk Soaring Above Kleinstuck. 📸 Seth Messer
Eastern Phoebe arriving at Kleinstuck. 📸 Seth Messer
You can view our full checklist from our morning hike here.
All in all, it was a wonderful morning spent in the woods, and the feeling of Spring was palpable. Who knew there were so many woodpeckers?
Interested in learning more about woodpeckers? You can pick up a handy folding guide to woodpeckers of North America here.
