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Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinusOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Red-bellied Woodpecker Breeding Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Dark brown in adults and juveniles.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown Color: Red
  • Forehead Color: Red
  • Nape Color: Red
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: No Data
Red-bellied Woodpecker Breeding Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 23-27 cm (9-10.5 in)
  • Weight: 68 g (2.4 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Tan, Red, White, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: White with some black spotting on lower belly.
  • Upperparts: Black and white barring.
  • Back Pattern: Barred or banded
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Red-bellied Woodpecker Breeding Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Undulating flight with fairly rapid wing beats interspersed with periods of roller-coaster flight with wings folded.
  • Wingspan Range: 38-46 cm (15-18 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Barred
  • Upper Tail: Black and white barred.
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Gray
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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Melanerpes carolinus
Length9 - 10.5 Inches
Wingspan16.5 Inches

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Medium woodpecker, black-and-white barred upperparts, pale gray-brown underparts with indistinct red wash on belly. Head has bright red crown and nape, pale brown face. White rump, white wing patches, and white-barred central tail feathers are visible in flight.

● Song: "churr-churr", "querr-querr", "chuck-chuck-chuck"

● Foraging & Feeding: Red-bellied Woodpecker: Eats insects, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and sap from sapsucker drill wells.

● Breeding & nesting: Red-bellied Woodpecker: Three to eight white eggs are laid in tree cavity built by both parents, or in an abandoned hole of other woodpeckers. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents (male at night, female during the day).

● Similar species: Red-bellied Woodpecker: Golden-fronted Woodpecker has black tail without white bars, yellow-orange nape, yellow patch at base of upper mandible, and indistinct yellow wash on belly.

Flight Pattern

Undulating flight with fairly rapid wing beats interspersed with periods of roller-coaster flight with wings folded.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Red-bellied Woodpecker: Breeds from South Dakota, Great Lakes, and southern New England south to the Gulf Coast and Florida. Northernmost birds sometimes migrate south for winter. Inhabits open and swampy woodlands; comes into parks during migration and to feeders in winter.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon to fairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight2.4 Ounces