Translation guide
The bird known for pecking wood. In Japanese, the most common and general term is キツツキ.
キツツキ
woodpecker
Referring to any woodpecker species in a general or everyday context.
The standard, everyday word for woodpecker. Can be written in katakana, hiragana, or kanji (啄木鳥), but katakana is most common.
庭にキツツキが来た。
A woodpecker came to the garden.
キツツキの鳴き声が聞こえる。
I can hear a woodpecker's call.
Kanji form of キツツキ. Less common in everyday writing but may appear in literature or formal contexts.
啄木鳥は森の医者と呼ばれる。
Woodpeckers are called the doctors of the forest.
An archaic or poetic word for woodpecker, rarely used in modern Japanese. Sometimes appears in classical literature.
古い歌に「けら」という言葉が出てくる。
The word 'kera' appears in old poems.
Referring to a particular species of woodpecker, such as the great spotted woodpecker or Japanese pygmy woodpecker.
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major). One of the most common and recognizable woodpeckers in Japan.
アカゲラが木をつついている。
A great spotted woodpecker is pecking at the tree.
Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki). A small, common woodpecker often seen in parks and gardens.
コゲラは小さいけどよく目立つ。
The pygmy woodpecker is small but stands out.
Japanese green woodpecker (Picus awokera). A green-colored woodpecker native to Japan.
アオゲラは日本固有種だ。
The Japanese green woodpecker is a species endemic to Japan.
Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). A large, striking woodpecker found in Hokkaido and northern Honshu.
クマゲラは北海道で見られる。
The black woodpecker can be seen in Hokkaido.
Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus). Less common, found in mountainous forests.
ヤマゲラは深い森に住んでいる。
The grey-headed woodpecker lives in deep forests.
Unless you need to specify a species, キツツキ is the safest and most natural choice. It covers all woodpeckers in everyday conversation.
Do not try to translate 'woodpecker' literally as 木をつつく鳥 (bird that pecks wood). While understandable, it sounds unnatural and is not the standard term.