Red-headed Woodpecker
Least ConcernMelanerpes erythrocephalus
Visual Identification
Red-headed Woodpecker
Appearance
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a striking bird with a vibrant red head, neck, and throat.
Its body is distinctly patterned with a black back and tail and large white wing patches contrasting sharply with the black flight feathers. Their bills are bluish-gray, and their eyes are a dark reddish brown. Legs and feet are greenish-gray.
Adults of both sexes share identical plumage. Juveniles differ, having a brown head and neck, and a back with black bars on a white background, gradually molting into adult plumage over their first winter.
Size
Length
19cm to 23cm
Wingspan
35cm to 42cm
Weight
56g to 97g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Red Black White
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Grey
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Red-headed Woodpeckers inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, and savannas across eastern North America. They prefer areas with abundant dead trees for nesting and foraging, often found in oak and beech forests, pine barrens, and wetland margins.
In the United States, they are most common in the Midwest and Southeast, with some populations extending into southern Canada during the breeding season. Northern populations typically migrate south for winter, while southern birds are often year-round residents.
Elevation Range
Up to 1,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
Red-headed Woodpeckers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Plant-based foods represent around two-thirds of their diet.
They are particularly fond of acorns and beechnuts, which they store for winter. Unlike many woodpeckers, they frequently catch insects in flight and may also opportunistically eat smaller birds' eggs or nestlings, as well as forage on the ground.
Behaviour
Red-headed Woodpeckers are agile flycatchers, often sallying from perches to catch insects in mid-air. They are skilled food hoarders, stuffing nuts and acorns into bark crevices for later consumption.
These woodpeckers are territorial and may aggressively defend their nesting and feeding areas from other birds, including larger species.
Vocalisation
Red-headed Woodpeckers have a distinctive, sharp 'tchur' or 'queer' call, often repeated in a series.
Their drumming is loud and resonant, consisting of short bursts that last about half a second. During territorial disputes, they may produce a harsh 'charr-charr' sound.
Nesting & Breeding
Red-headed Woodpeckers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, typically from May to August. Courtship involves chasing and calling displays, often centered around potential nest sites.
Nests are excavated in dead trees or large dead branches, usually 6-20 meters above ground. Both sexes participate in excavation. The female lays 4-7 white eggs in the unlined cavity.
Incubation lasts about 12-14 days, shared by both parents. Nestlings fledge after 24-27 days but may continue to be fed by parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.
Lifespan
The Red-headed Woodpecker typically lives for 9 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 10 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-headed Woodpeckers face threats from habitat loss due to the removal of dead trees and the conversion of open woodlands. Competition with European Starlings for nesting cavities also impacts their populations.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving suitable habitats and maintaining standing dead trees in their range.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for their distinctive tri-color pattern in open woodlands or near forest edges.
- Listen for their sharp 'tchur' call or drumming on dead trees.
- Check utility poles and fence posts in rural areas, as they often use these for perching.
- In the US, visit oak savannas or pine barrens for better chances of spotting them.
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Tricolored Woodpecker
Family:
PicidaePredators
Main predators include hawks, owls, and snakes. Raccoons and flying squirrels may also prey on eggs and nestlings.
Did You Know?
- Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of the few woodpecker species known to cover their eggs with wood chips when leaving the nest.
- They are skilled at catching insects in mid-air, behaving more like flycatchers than typical woodpeckers.
- These woodpeckers have been observed creating wedges in tree bark to store live grasshoppers for later consumption.
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FAQs
Are Red-headed Woodpeckers protected in the US?
Red-headed woodpeckers are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which makes it an offense to kill, injure, trade, or trap an individual bird or damage or destroy a nest, eggs, or young without a license.
What attracts Red-headed woodpeckers?
In winter months, red-headed woodpeckers have been known to visit backyard feeders, where they are observed to be particularly fond of suet.
Pecans, seeds, beechnuts, acorns, and soft fruits, including blackberries, cherries, and raspberries, may also work well at enticing red-headed visitors.
References
- 2
website: BirdLife International. 2018. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22680810A131390783.
View source - 1 4
report: Christmas Bird Count data for 1966-2017
- 3
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View source