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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.

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me