Red-bellied Woodpecker
Least ConcernMelanerpes carolinus
Visual Identification
Red-bellied Woodpecker
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
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
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
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
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Diet
Red-bellied Woodpeckers follow an omnivorous diet that includes insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They use their long, barbed tongues to extract insects from tree bark and crevices.
Larger prey is also frequently caught, including small birds, lizards and amphibians. They forage for fruit, acorns, pecans, hazelnuts, and beech nuts, both on the floor and among the branches of trees, and small pieces of hard mast may be stored in natural tree crevices as a future winter supply. Sap may also be eaten.
These adaptable birds also frequent bird feeders, showing a particular fondness for suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
Behaviour
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are agile climbers, often seen spiraling up tree trunks or along branches in search of food. They are known for their habit of storing food in bark crevices, sometimes covering their cache with bark flakes.
These woodpeckers are generally non-migratory and maintain territories year-round.
Vocalisation
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are vocal birds with a variety of calls. Their most common vocalization is a rolling 'churr' or 'quirr' sound, often repeated.
During the breeding season, they produce a loud, rattling call that sounds like 'kwirr kwirr kwirr'. They also communicate through drumming on resonant surfaces year-round, which becomes more intense during the breeding season.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding season for Red-bellied Woodpeckers typically begins in late spring. Males initiate courtship by drumming and calling to attract females. Pairs often remain together for several breeding seasons.
These woodpeckers excavate nest cavities in dead trees or large branches, usually 5-20 meters above ground, taking around 2 weeks to complete. The female lays 3-5 white eggs in the unlined cavity. Both parents share incubation duties.
Incubation lasts about 12 days, and nestlings fledge after 24-27 days. Parents continue to feed and care for the young for several weeks after they have fledged.
Lifespan
The Red-bellied Woodpecker typically lives for 8 to 10 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 20 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are currently of Least Concern due to their stable population trends and large range. However, they face challenges from habitat loss due to urbanization and competition with invasive species like European Starlings for nesting cavities.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving mature forests and promoting urban green spaces.
Birdwatching Tips
- Listen for their distinctive rolling 'churr' call
- Look for their zebra-like back pattern when perched on tree trunks
- Check bird feeders, especially those offering suet or nuts
- In the eastern United States, scan deciduous forests and suburban areas with mature trees
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Zebra-backed Woodpecker
Family:
PicidaePredators
Main predators include hawks, owls, and snakes. Raccoons and squirrels may prey on eggs and nestlings in tree cavities.
Did You Know?
- Despite their name, Red-bellied Woodpeckers have only a faint red tinge on their bellies, often hard to see.
- They can stick out their tongues nearly 2 inches beyond their beaks.
- These woodpeckers sometimes drink from hummingbird feeders by hanging upside down.
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FAQs
What are the benefits of Red-bellied woodpeckers?
Despite being seen by some as a pest species due to their hammering and drilling habits, red-bellied woodpeckers are good to have around. They control insect populations by feasting on bugs and play an important role in the wider food chain, with their eggs and nestlings serving as prey for several predators.
The cavities they drill in trees are hugely beneficial to many other wildlife species that are unable to excavate their own hollows but require a safe chamber in which to lay their own eggs and raise their young.
In addition, as fruit and seed eaters, red-bellied woodpeckers play a key role in biodiversity, dispersing seeds and subsequently regenerating plant-rich habitats.
References
- 2
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Melanerpes carolinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22680856A92882598.
View source - 1 4
website, 2007: Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven
- 3
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View source