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Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red Headed woodpeckers are easy to identify, they sport a bright red head, black wings and white chest. Seem to be very common here in the city of Tallahassee as I see more of them here than out in the woods where I live. Juveniles have gray-brown heads and black bars on white secondaries. Immature with some red in gray head.
Breeds in deciduous woodlands, especially beech or oak, river bottoms, open woods, groves of dead and dying trees, orchards, parks, open country with scattered trees, forest edges, and open wooded swamps with dead trees and stumps. Attracted to burns and recent clearings. Winters in mature stands of forest, especially those with oaks.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four woodpeckers known to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fence posts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they cannot escape.
Spotted on Jan 10, 2012
Submitted on Jan 13, 2012
5 Comments
Very good information and such a great photo, Mary! Thanks for posting!
Thank you Alice - I can thank All About Birds for that info :)
So that is where they have all disappeared. Like the notes on storing food!
Thanks Alison, I didn't even realize they went that far north. We have tons of them here in the city.
Great photo. Red-headed woodpeckers have almost disappeared from where I live (central Ontario). You're so lucky to have them.