Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

This charismatic climber brings a flash of red and a resonant drumming to forests across eastern North America.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Red-bellied Woodpecker features a striking black-and-white zebra-like pattern on its back, with a pale buff underside. Its most distinctive feature is the bright red nape extending to the crown in males, while females have red only on the nape.

Despite its name, the red belly is often difficult to see, appearing as a faint pinkish wash on the lower abdomen. The bill is long, sharp and black. Legs are grayish-green, and eyes are a deep brownish-red.

Juveniles resemble adults but have duller plumage and less extensive red on the head.

Size

Length

23cm to 26cm

Wingspan

38cm to 46cm

Weight

56g to 91g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Red Black White

Secondary Colour

Buff

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Red-bellied Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Red-bellied Woodpecker can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Red-bellied Woodpecker can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found throughout the eastern United States, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast. They inhabit deciduous and mixed forests, wooded suburbs, swamps, and orchards. Their range has been expanding northward in recent decades.

These woodpeckers are year-round residents across their range, with some individuals in northern areas moving short distances south during harsh winters. They are particularly common in the southeastern United States.

Elevation Range

Up to 900 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons