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Red-bellied Woodpecker - BirdForum Opus

Adult Male
Photo © by pnicholls
Georgia, USA, January 2003
Melanerpes carolinus

Centurus carolinus

Identification

Female
Photo © by Daddylion
December 2008
  • Length: 9 to 10.5 inches (23-27 cm)
  • Wingspan: 15 to 18 inches (38-45.5 cm).
  • Back is barred black and white.
  • Adults are mainly light gray on the face.
  • Male has red crown and nape
  • Female has red nape and a red patch above the bill (gray on crown).
  • Rosy wash on the belly.
  • White wing patches are noticeable when bird is in flight.

Similar species

Female
Photo © by Deerbird
Kentucky, 2015

Golden-fronted Woodpecker which is found in central Texas, south into eastern Mexico, and northern Central America to Nicaragua.

Distribution

Juvenile
Photo © by Deerbird
Frankfort, Kentucky, July 2016

Eastern North America (southern Canada to Texas and Florida Keys)

The range is expanding both northward and westward.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Temperate hardwood forests, swampy woods, open deciduous and coniferous forests with a supply of old dead trees.

Behaviour

Diet

They eat insects such as beetles, ants and flies, either in flight or from tree trunks, as well as fruits, seeds and nuts.

Breeding

They make their nests in decayed tree cavities or trees such as elms, maples and willows.

Vocalisation

Chirrup call similar to tree frog, plus an abrupt chuck chuck chuck.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015)
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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