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Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Adults are strikingly tri-colored, with a black back and tail and a red head and neck. Their underparts are mainly white. The wings are black with white secondary remiges. Adult males and females are identical in plumage.[3] Juveniles are similarly shaded, but are mottled with brown.[3] Non-birders may often mistakenly identify Red-bellied Woodpeckers as Red-headeds, whose range overlaps somewhat with that of the Red-headed woodpecker. While red-bellied woodpeckers have some bright red on the backs of their necks and heads, red-headed woodpeckers have a much deeper red that covers their entire heads and necks, as well as a different overall plumage pattern. Wikipedia
Open woodlands preferably with snags.
The red-headed woodpecker is listed as a vulnerable species in Canada and as a threatened species in some states in the US. The species has declined in numbers due to habitat loss caused by harvesting of snags, agricultural development, channeling of rivers, a decline in farming resulting to regeneration of eastern forests, monoculture crops, the loss of small orchards, and treatment of telephone poles with creosote.[
6 Comments
Thanks Mary..interesting re: city vs.woods. I don't think they like dense woods. The places I see them is fire managed flatwoods with low shrubbery and pines that include snags.
Wonderful Series.
There are still several in Tallahassee, Florida. Have watched them over the past three years and they tend to either return to the same trees, or their offspring do. Have seen the same nest (hole) used each year. Funny how I do tend to see more of them in the city where I work than I do where I live in the woods. Cool Fact- they are the only woodpecker known to hide food for later. Including placing bugs in-between tree bark to hold it in place until the bird returns to eat.
annorion...they are threatened due to loss of habitat in certain states, don't know about Louisiana. I only see them in Florida in parks that have the right habitat.
Thanks for your comments.
What a beauty!
I'm surprised to learn they are threatened. We seen several of these guys a few weeks ago at a park in Louisiana.
Beautiful spotting!