Redbellied Woodpecker

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Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order
Piciformes Family Picidae Genus Melanerpes
Identification Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be
identified by a black and white striped pattern
on the back, an unmarked white breast with a
faint reddish tint, and bright red on the back of
the head. In females, this red coloration is
only found on the nape of the neck, whereas the
red is continuous from the nape of the neck to
the top of the head in males. Immature birds
lack red coloration on the head. Range and
Habitat These woodpeckers are fairly common in
the eastern United States, ranging from the Great
Lakes and New England to the Gulf of Mexico.
They are found year-round in a variety of forest
types, as well as suburban areas. Between
February and April 2009, local abundance in
Maryville, TN was about 0.85 sightings per
observation hour.
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker. Photos by Gar
Secrist.
Feeding These birds move along branches and
trees, picking at surface of bark. They mainly
eat insects, but will also gather and store nuts.
Sometimes they will wedge larger nuts into
crevices and break them into pieces with their
beaks. Nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers nest in
pairs in tree cavities. They usually excavate
nests themselves, but may also take over the
nests of other birds. The male will begin to
excavate a nest while drumming on the tree to
attract females. When a female pairs with the
male, she will then aid in the next excavation.
The woodpeckers are protective of their nest
territory and will chase other woodpeckers away
from their cavities. European starlings are a
common competitor for nest space, and often drive
Red-bellied Woodpeckers away and take over their
nests. Red-bellied Woodpeckers lay 2-6 eggs on
woodchips leftover from the excavation of the
nest. The eggs are incubated for about 12
days. Sounds Red-bellied Woodpecker
song Red-bellied Woodpecker call Red-bellied
Woodpecker drumming Ethogram Click here for a
list of potential behaviors in a sample
ethogram. References Peterson, RT. 2002.
Peterson Field Guides Birds of Eastern and
Central North America, Fifth Edition. Boston
(MA) Houghton Mifflin Company.
427p. http//www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bell
ied_Woodpecker/lifehistoryfood http//sdakotabir
ds.com/species/red_bellied_woodpecker_info.htm ht
tp//www.birds.cornell.edu/wp_about/biology.html
http//www.dlia.org/atbi/species/Animalia/Chordata
/Aves/Piciformes/Picidae/Melanerpes_carolinus.shtm
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Gar Secrist, 1 May 2009