Red Headed Woodpecker

Appearance:

Length: : 7.5-9.1 in
Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
Wingspan: 16.5 in

The red-headed woodpecker (melanerpes erythrocephalus) is the only eastern woodpecker with an entirely red head. It has a solid black back, white rump, and large white patches on the wings, making the lower back appear white when the bird is at rest. Immature birds appear to have a dusky-colored head.

Habitat:

The red-headed woodpecker is found in a number of habitat types including wooded savannas, open woodlands, riparian forests, orchards, suburbia, and agricultural lands. Preferred habitat includes dead trees for nest sites, relatively open undergrowth, and access to the ground for foraging.

Behavior:

In addition to catching insects by the normal woodpecker method of hammering at wood, Red-headed Woodpeckers also catch insects in flight and hunt for them on the ground. They also eat considerable amounts of fruit and seeds. Their raspy calls are shriller and scratchier than the Red-bellied Woodpecker’s.