Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)

Description:

A sleek, round-headed woodpecker, about the same size as a Hairy Woodpecker but without the blocky outlines. Often appears pale overall, even the boldly black-and-white striped back, with flashing red cap and nape. Red nape, reddish around base of bill. Gray face, crown, and underparts. Red belly usually concealed by surrounding gray feathers. Look for white patches near the wingtips as this bird flies.

Habitat:

This one is on the Pecan tree in my garden. You may sometimes see Red-bellied Woodpeckers wedge large nuts into bark crevices, then whack them into manageable pieces using their beaks. They also use cracks in trees and fence posts to store food for later in the year, a habit it shares with other woodpeckers in its genus.

Notes:

A Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly 2 inches past the end of its beak. The tip is barbed and the bird’s spit is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, possibly allowing a breeding pair to forage in slightly different places on their territory and maximize their use of available food.