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Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Melanerpes carolinus)
Banded March 1999 - Carmel, Indiana

General Information

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a familiar year round resident of forests, parks and neighborhoods of the eastern half the United States and southern parts of Canada around the Great Lakes. It is a bird of densely wooded lowlands and bottomlands, open forests, and mesic habitats from sea level to altitudes of 3,000 feet (Winkler et al. 1995). In Texas, its range overlaps with the similar Golden-fronted Woodpecker, and hybrids have been reported (Pyle 1997).

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a black and white zebra-backed pattern on its back, a red nape and crown (male). It is from 9 to 10.5 inches long with a wingspan of 123 to 139 mm. It weighs about 72.5 grams (around 3 ounces).

These woodpeckers prefer to feed in the upper parts of live and dead trees. Oak trees are preferred. Surface probing and gleaning techniques are used more than pecking or hammering like other woodpeckers.

Figure 1 - Red-bellied Woodpecker - Female

Figure 2 - Red-bellied Woodpecker - male

The red on the male extends from the forehead across the crown and down the nape of the neck to the upper back.

These birds are omnivorous. Diet consists of plant material (fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, corn and tree sap) and insects (ants, flies, grasshoppers, beetle larvae, caterpillars, lizards, frogs and some bird eggs and nestlings). They frequently feed on the ground and often flycatch for insects from a perch.

As it name implies, there is a red patch edged with a yellowish wash on the belly of both the male and the female.

Figure 3 - Red-bellied Woodpecker underside

Figure 4 - Red-bellied Woodpecker Under Wing

The underwing also shows a the strong pattern but the black is lighter.

The upper wing is strongly patterned with black and white. The white patch at the base of the primary flight feathers is easily seen when the bird is in flight.

Figure 5 - Red-bellied Woodpecker Upperwing

Figure 6 - Red-bellied Woodpecker Coverts

The color, condition, replacement pattern and shape of the feather tips of the greater coverts is useful in aging woodpeckers. Older feathers are worn and brownish. Adult feathers are more rounded than juvenile feathers.

The undertail shows the pattern of color not usually seen when the woodpecker is clinging to a tree. Still pointed tail feathers help the bird to brace itself on the tree.

Figure 7 - Red-bellied Woodpecker Undertail

Figure 8 - Red-bellied Woodpecker Foot

Notice the zygodactyl toe arrangement of the woodpecker foot. Two toes face forward, and two face rearward. This arrangement enables the woodpecker to grasp the bark of tree trunks as it forages for food or excavates a cavity, and to easily back out of a tree hole.

Nesting Behavior

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are cavity nesters. The male excavates a new cavity in a dead tree or sometimes a live tree. From 4 to 6 eggs are incubated by both the male and female. The male incubates at night, the female during the day. Chicks hatch in about 12 days, and fledge in 22-27 days. Both parents care for the young.

Banding Recoveries

The Bird Banding Lab web site reports that between 1955 and 1997, a total of 15,903 Red-bellied Woodpeckers were banded. Of these, 449 have been recovered, a recovery rate of 2.8 %. Banding studies show that Red-bellied Woodpeckers are short distance migrants, and can live more than 20 years in the wild, a very long life for a landbird.

If you should recover a banded bird, please report the band number to the Bird Banding Lab by calling 1-800-327-BAND.

Conservation Status

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are doing well. Since WW II, their range has expanded into the northeastern USA. They do well in suburban areas. No doubt, the increase in suburbs and the popularity of backyard bird feeding has favored this species. European Starlings, however, are significant competitors for nest sites.

Their preference for insects and insect larvae provide a valuable natural control for insect pests. They also cache food for the winter, especially acorns, nuts, seeds and occasionally insects.

Literature Cited

Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds. Part 1. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, CA. 732 Pp.

Winkler, H., D. A. Christie, and D. Nurney. 1995. Woodpeckers. An identification guide to the woodpeckers of the world. Houghton Mifflin Co., NY. 406 Pp.

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