Red-bellied Woodpecker

Features a zebra-patterned (black and white) back and wings. Adult males have a bright red cap extending from the bill to the nape. Females have red only on the nape and a small patch above the bill, with a gray crown in between. Both sexes have a pale, buffy-white underside with a faint reddish wash on the belly that can be difficult to see in the field.

Zebra-striped back, red nape and/or crown, pale face and underparts, and a long, chisel-like beak.

Length: 9.1-10.6 in (23-27 cm); Wingspan: 13.0-16.5 in (33-42 cm); Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz (56-91 g).

Most common call is a rolling, shrill 'kwirr' or 'churr'. They also make a rhythmic 'cuk-cuk-cuk' sound and drum on resonant surfaces.

Omnivorous; consumes insects (ants, beetles, caterpillars), spiders, fruits, seeds, nuts, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or tree frogs.

Deciduous and mixed forests, wooded suburbia, parks, and wetlands with standing dead timber.

Non-migratory resident; generally remains in the same territory year-round.

Cavity nesters that excavate holes in dead trees (snags) or dead limbs of live trees. They lay 2-6 white eggs; both parents incubate and feed the young. Breeding occurs from April to June.

Red-headed Woodpecker (has an entirely red head, neck, and throat); Northern Flicker (has spotted breast and black bib); Gila Woodpecker (similar pattern but restricted to the Southwest US).

Acts as a primary cavity nester, creating holes in dead trees that are later used by dozens of other species of birds and mammals. They also help control insect populations and disperse seeds.

Least Concern (IUCN); population is stable and expanding northward.

Look for them at suet or sunflower seed feeders, or listen for their loud, rolling calls in deciduous forests. They frequently cache food in tree crevices to eat later.

Despite its name, the red on its belly is very pale and often hidden from view when the bird is clinging to a tree. They have a barbed tongue that can extend nearly two inches past the tip of their beak to extract insects from deep crevices.