Red-Bellied Woodpecker
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is 9.5 to 10 inches in length. The male of this species has a red crown and nape, and back with black and white barring, and pale grayish underparts. The female looks the same except she has a gray crown and a red nape. The Red-Bellied Woodpecker gets is name from a reddish wash low on the belly (between the legs) that is difficult to see in the field, but is pictured in the photo above (right).
The song of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker is a wavering Qrrrr-qrrrr-qrrr or churr-churr-churr. Its call is a chuck-chuck-chuck. This is a noisy woodpecker that eats a variety of foods including insects, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and will come to bird feeders for suet or sunflower seeds. It also will take sap from holes where the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker has previously drilled.
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker is found in various types of forests, areas where there are scattered trees, and urban parks.
Click here for a range map and additional information.
Click on the player below for Red-Bellied Woodpecker vocalizations.
The song of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker is a wavering Qrrrr-qrrrr-qrrr or churr-churr-churr. Its call is a chuck-chuck-chuck. This is a noisy woodpecker that eats a variety of foods including insects, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and will come to bird feeders for suet or sunflower seeds. It also will take sap from holes where the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker has previously drilled.
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker is found in various types of forests, areas where there are scattered trees, and urban parks.
Click here for a range map and additional information.
Click on the player below for Red-Bellied Woodpecker vocalizations.