Woodpecker (Red-bellied)

The most common woodpecker in the Southeast, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is a familiar sight at bird feeders and in backyards. Yes, its belly is covered in a light red wash. But this woodpecker is easier to spot by the red on the back and top of its head.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker competes vigorously for nest holes with other woodpeckers, but it is often evicted from it’s own nest hole by the European Starling. In some areas, half of all Red-bellied Woodpecker nesting cavities are taken over by starlings.

The male Red-bellied Woodpecker has a longer bill and a longer, wider tongue tip than the female. These adaptations may allow the male to reach deeper into furrows to extract prey and may allow the sexes to divide up the resources in one area.


1 Photographed in the wild, Naples, FL
2 & 3 Photographed in the wild, Chicago, IL