General

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

Range and 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.

Breeding and 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).

Foraging and Feeding

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

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Song is a quavering "churr-churr-churr", "querr-querr", or abrupt "chuck, chuck, chuck."

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.