Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
Summary
New birders often question how red-bellied woodpeckers got their name – they have a red head, not a red belly, right? But if you get a close look at one, you may notice that they do, in fact, have a red patch on their lower belly. To add to the confusion, another woodpecker with a striking red head is already named red-headed woodpecker. This species is not as common and widespread in Pennsylvania as the red-bellied woodpecker, though.
A few decades ago, red-bellied woodpeckers weren’t very common in Pennsylvania either. Warming winters and increased food availability from bird feeders have allowed this species to expand northward and westward in the U.S. over the past half century, and they are now quite common year-round residents throughout Pennsylvania.
Learn more about red-bellied woodpeckers here.
More Details
FAMILY
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
IDENTIFICATION
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers with a striking black and white pattern on their back and wings and a mostly white underside. Males have a red crown and nape, while females have a red nape but gray crown.
HABITAT
Forests, woodlands, and yards
DIET
Omnivorous. A large proportion of their diet consists of insects and other arthropods, but they also eat seeds, nuts, fruits, and small animals.
Ecosystem Connections
Like all woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers lay their eggs in holes in dead trees and fence posts. They are known as primary cavity nesters, meaning they excavate their own cavities for nesting in, usually creating a new cavity each year. This habit is incredibly important for creating nesting places for secondary cavity nesters, or species that nest in cavities but do not excavate them. Secondary cavity nesters include many birds like eastern bluebird, wood duck, American kestrel, tree swallow, and house wren. Additionally, many other kinds of animals and insects, including squirrels and bats, use these cavities for shelter.