Red-bellied Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus

Classification: Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Brief Description

A medium-sized woodpecker known for its strikingly barred back and habit of visiting bird feeders. It is active, vocal, and can be seen hitching up tree trunks in search of food.

Additional Information

  • Region of Origin: Eastern United States and extreme Southern Canada, ranging from the Great Lakes and New England south to Florida and west to the Great Plains.
  • Typical Sighting Period: Year-round resident throughout its range, easily seen in all seasons.
  • Plumage Details: 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.
  • Ecological Significance: 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.
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN); population is stable and expanding northward.
  • Observation Tips: 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.

Size & Weight

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).

Diet

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

Habitat

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

Migration

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

Voice (Call & Song)

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

Nesting & Breeding

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.

Key Field Marks

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

Similar Species

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).

Interesting Facts

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.