Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Quick Take

• This woodpecker's name comes from a feature you'll almost never actually see on one. See the subtle red belly →
• Male and female red-bellied woodpeckers have different tongue shapes, a distinction that gives them a surprising survival edge. Explore tongue-based foraging →
• These birds are known nest thieves, and the species they target might just surprise you. Discover the nest thieves →
• Red-bellied woodpeckers quietly serve as a frontline defense against one of North America's most destructive invasive insects. See the emerald ash borer role →

Red-bellied woodpeckers don’t quite look how you would imagine them to look. They’re medium-sized and have a bold black-and-white striped back and a red cap, but despite their name, their red belly is actually a subtle, pale wash of color that is often hidden from view. They’re pretty easy to see, though they are often confused with red-headed woodpeckers, a slightly rarer species. Once you learn to identify their call, it is very easy to find them.

4 Amazing Red-Bellied Woodpecker Facts

• Nest Stealers. Red-bellied woodpeckers only like to nest in crevices. These are often in short supply, so they are known to steal the nests of other birds.
• Long Tongues. These woodpeckers have barbed tongues and sticky spit, which makes it easy for them to catch bugs inside crevices. Males and females have slightly different tongue shapes, which helps them find food in different places.
• Food Storage. Red-bellied woodpeckers store large nuts and similar foods in crevices for later. They will also use cracks and fence posts for storage.
• Playful. These birds are known for their erratic flying behavior that is characterized as a type of play. You’ll often see them flying in random directions near the tops of the trees.

Habitat and Distribution

These birds live year-round in forests in the eastern United States. they prefer mid-height main branches, though you can also find them on the tree trunks. Their calls are loud and frequent, which typically allows birdwatchers to find them rather easily.

Nests

Like most woodpeckers, the red-bellied woodpecker nests in dead trees, usually hardwoods or pines. They will usually excavate a new cavity every year. However, some woodpeckers will reuse old nests or steal holes from other species. Often, if the same tree is used, a new hole is excavated just below the old one.

Woodpeckers don’t build a traditional nest. Instead, the hole is mostly left open. However, they will lay their eggs on a bed of woodchips left over from the excavation.

Each cavity is about eight and a half to twelve and a half inches deep. At the end, the living space is roughly three and a half by five inches.

Classification and Scientific Name

These woodpeckers belong to the Melanerpes genus, and their scientific name is Melanerpes carolinus. There are approximately 23 to 24 species found in this genus that stretch all over the world. Most of them are quite colorful with red caps and similar features. However, some of them are simply black and white.

This genus is in the larger Picidae family, which contains all woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are found across much of the world, though they are notably absent from Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the extreme polar regions. They are a populous and easily recognizable family.

Size, Appearance, and Behavior

These birds are mostly light gray. On their wings and back, they have a barred pattern that is common amongst birds in their genus. Adult males have a bright red cap that makes them easy to identify. Females also have a red patch on their neck and above their bill.

While this bird does have a slight red coloration on its belly, this is difficult to see in the field. These birds are around 9.4 inches long and have a wingspan of 13 to 16.5 inches. They weigh around 2 to 3.2 ounces (56 to 91 grams).

Diet

The red-bellied woodpecker is a forager at heart. They are very opportunistic eaters, which means that they will eat just about anything edible that comes their way. Usually, they use their bill to chisel into cracks or probe existing cracks. Their tongue allows them to pull out beetles and other insects from trees.

What Does the Red-Bellied Woodpecker Eat?

Like many woodpeckers, they will also hide food in trees to eat later. In this way, they prepare for winter and times of little food.

Most of the time, these birds forage in dead or dying trees. Some birds spend over 60% of their foraging time in dead trees, in fact. While they can poke new holes in trees to find bugs, they largely use existing holes. They are often a major predator of insects that prey on trees, including the emerald ash borer and other invasive species.

Predators and Threats

What Eats the Red-Bellied Woodpecker?

Major predators of adult red-bellied woodpeckers include birds of prey, such as Cooper’s hawks. However, they are also preyed upon by black rat snakes and house cats.

Nestlings and eggs have a larger list of predators, including owls, other woodpeckers, squirrels, and rat snakes.

When a predator approaches, these birds hide or harass it with alarm calls. They will defend their nest aggressively from predators. Often, they will directly attack predators that come near their nests.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

In the spring, red-bellied woodpeckers begin breeding activities. Usually, these involve drumming and vocal sounds to attract a mate. Courtship will often occur until the end of the breeding season. These birds are known for monogamous relationships.

Once mating occurs, the male initiates the process of nesting. A dead or decaying tree must be located. The male will then begin to make a hole, which the female accepts by taking part in mutual tapping.

The birds then excavate a hole together. The female will often complete the hole and then enter it to lay eggs. Because dead trees are necessary, their breeding can be impacted by cutting down dead trees in an area.

The juvenile birds stay in the nest for 24 to 27 days. After that, the birds spend about 27 days in the area after fledging. Often, the birds will return to the area where they were born to reproduce, though food availability and predation pressure also influence their choice.

Population

The red-bellied woodpecker is pretty populous. In fact, their population is thought to be increasing by about 0.8% each year. Therefore, they are considered in the Least Concern category. Their estimated mature population is between 14 and 17 million.