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Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalusOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Breeding Location:

Forest edge, Grassland with scattered trees, Mountains



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Yes but uncommon



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

4 - 7



Incubation Days:

12 - 14



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

No nest materials.



Migration:

Some migrate



Splitbar

Overview

Red-headed Woodpecker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black upperparts and tail, and white underparts and rump. The head, throat, and upper breast are dark red. Wings are black with large white patches. Bill, legs and feet are black. This is the only woodpecker in the east with a completely red head.

Range and Habitat

Red-headed Woodpecker: Breeds from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec south to Florida and the Gulf Coast; scarce in northeastern states. Spends winters in southern part of breeding range.

Breeding and Nesting

Red-headed Woodpecker: Four to seven white eggs are laid in a cavity drilled in a limb of a living or dead tree, mostly by the male. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-headed Woodpecker: Eats insects, spiders, millipedes, and centipedes, seeds, various nuts, and berries; forages by hunting from low perches, flying down to ground to pick up prey or nuts.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Red-headed Woodpecker: Noisy during breeding season, uttering a bold and grating "queark", "queer,queer,queer", or "kerr-uck,kerr-uck."

Similar Species

Red-headed Woodpecker: Red-bellied Woodpecker has barred black-and-white upperparts and much less red on head and neck.

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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Length8.5 - 9.25 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black upperparts and tail, and white underparts and rump. The head, throat, and upper breast are dark red. Wings are black with large white patches. Bill, legs and feet are black. This is the only woodpecker in the east with a completely red head.

● Song: "queark","queer,queer,queer","kerr-uck,kerr-uck"

● Foraging & Feeding: Red-headed Woodpecker: Eats insects, spiders, millipedes, and centipedes, seeds, various nuts, and berries; forages by hunting from low perches, flying down to ground to pick up prey or nuts.

● Breeding & nesting: Red-headed Woodpecker: Four to seven white eggs are laid in a cavity drilled in a limb of a living or dead tree, mostly by the male. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Red-headed Woodpecker: Red-bellied Woodpecker has barred black-and-white upperparts and much less red on head and neck.

Flight Pattern

Strong flight with slow steady shallow wing beats., Sallies for flying insects, then returns to same or nearby perch.
Red-headed Woodpecker Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Red-headed Woodpecker: Breeds from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec south to Florida and the Gulf Coast; scarce in northeastern states. Spends winters in southern part of breeding range.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationYes but uncommon
MigrationSome migrate
Weight2.5 Ounces