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Red-bellied woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Description:

Adults 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 red on the 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. They are 9 to 10.5 inches long, and have a wingspan of 15-18 inches. They pick at tree bark surface more often than drilling into it. They eat insects, fruits, nuts, seeds and suet. They nest in the decayed cavities of dead trees, old stumps, or in live trees that have softer wood such as elms, maples, or willows; both sexes assist in digging nesting cavities. Areas around nest sites are marked with drilling holes to warn others away. They defend their nests and young aggressively, and may directly attack predators that come near the nest.

Habitat:

Canada and the Northeastern United States.

Notes:

This bird was very busy at two of my suet feeders today.

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5 Comments

ScottRasmussen
ScottRasmussen 12 years ago

Very nice pictures. I love seeing these guys around my house. It looks like you've got a female in the first two shots and a male in the last two.

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Great action shot!

Maria dB
Maria dB 12 years ago

Thank you, Lorelei and Alice!

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Excellent pictures!

East End aka Lorelei
East End aka Lorelei 12 years ago

Very nice!

Maria dB
Spotted by
Maria dB

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Spotted on Feb 20, 2012
Submitted on Feb 21, 2012

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