The yellow-crowned woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in forests and woodlands throughout North America. As its name suggests, it is characterized by a distinctive yellow patch on the crown of its head. This striking feature, along with its black-and-white plumage and bright red nape, makes it an easily recognizable bird.
Yellow-crowned woodpeckers are known for their noisy, territorial drumming, which they use to attract mates and defend their territories. They are also skilled excavators, using their strong beaks to create nesting cavities in trees. These cavities are often used by other birds and animals, making the yellow-crowned woodpecker an important part of the forest ecosystem.