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Project Noah Nature School
Melanerpes carolinus
dults are mainly light gray on the face and underparts; they have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings and tail. Adult males have a red head going from the bill to the nape; females have a red patch on the nape and another above the bill. The reddish tinge on the belly that gives the bird its name is difficult to see in field identification. They are 9 to 10.5 inches long, and have a wingspan of 15 to 18 inches.
Red-headed woodpeckers generally live in larger wood lots, and in older mature forests. They need older larger trees so they can bore a hole in which they build their nest.
This bird, finds its way to my wooded yard on a regular basis looking for bugs under the bark of many of the trees in my yard. It will also come to suet feeders set up, in the late fall, winter and early spring. A pair build a nest in one of my very old shag bark hickory trees this year. They generally have been using ash trees, which are a much softer wood then hickory.
Spotted on Apr 18, 2012
Submitted on May 17, 2012
15 Comments
Consider adding this spotting to Woodpeckers of the World mission!
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1419...
Thank you frankdaalestrup, I am not sure you have seen any of my other spottings, but I am all about detail. I want others to be able to see and study the beauty that I see when I do my best to capture it. I want tack sharp photos with good lighting so I can showcase the wildlife in all its colors. Thanks for the wonderful comment
wingspan of to 18 inches = 45 cm, it is a fairly large bird.
Very nice picture and perfect colors. :)
Thank you MayraSpringmann, and SatyenMehta, for looking at my spotting, and for your kind words.
Beautiful close up!
Beautiful!!!
thank you sofi1
Maria dB, I have added a totally different spotting of this same bird. It clearly shows the red belly for which it gets its name.
Beautiful photo and it would be great to add another one to this spotting showing the belly!
Thank you Willie =). If you wish to share another picture, great. However, regarding my curiosity, let´s say..., it's enough with the clear description. (I don´t really know enough for what; it may had been called red bellied and had a white belly, I tend to think....) Greetings and thank you once more. =)
Thanks Gerardo, and Patty C.
Patty C, if you need to see the red bellied better, I will post another spotting of this bird. The photo will not be of the full bird, but will clearly show the buff red belly of this bird.
Wonderful shot!
Lovely bird and picture; and clear description too, I was looking for the red belly ;)
Thanks, I love wildlife, and love to try to capture its beauty. I am thrilled you approve of my effort, Anne Marie
Great photo!