The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a common and widespread bird species. This medium-sized woodpecker is found across the eastern United States, where its distinct calls and energetic foraging are familiar sights and sounds. The perception that this species is uncommon may stem from confusion with other woodpeckers or a misperception of its subtle field marks. It is an adaptable resident of eastern North America, with a stable or increasing population.
Current Population Status and Range
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not a species of conservation concern, boasting a large population estimated at around 16 million individuals globally. North American Breeding Bird Survey data indicate that the population has been increasing, growing by an estimated 0.8% annually between 1966 and 2019. This consistent positive trend leads to a low Continental Concern Score from Partners in Flight, which rates the species at 7 out of 20.
The bird’s geographic distribution spans the entire eastern half of the United States, extending west into the Great Plains and north to the Great Lakes region and southern Canada. This species is non-migratory and remains a permanent resident throughout most of its range, though northern populations may shift southward during severe winters. Their range has actively expanded northward and westward in recent decades, accelerating after the 1950s.
This range expansion is attributed to several factors, including the maturation of forests in the northeastern U.S., warmer winter temperatures, and the increased availability of supplemental food from bird feeders. The species is now significantly more abundant at the western edge of its distribution in states like Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas than it was historically. Its adaptability to various forested habitats and suburban environments contributes to its widespread success across the eastern landscape.
Key Identification Features
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is roughly the size of a robin, measuring between 9 and 10.5 inches long with a wingspan ranging from 15 to 18 inches. The most striking feature is the pattern on its back, wings, and tail, which consists of prominent black and white barring often described as a “ladderback” or “zebra-striped” pattern. The rest of the underparts and face are generally a pale grayish or buffy-brown color.
Sexual dimorphism is clearly visible in the coloring on the head. The male has a full, bright red cap that extends from the base of the bill, over the crown, and all the way to the nape of the neck. The female, by contrast, has a gray or brown crown and only displays red on the nape of the neck and sometimes a small patch above the bill. Juveniles lack the distinct red coloring entirely, having a muted or brownish head until they mature.
The species’ namesake, the red belly, is often subtle and difficult to observe in the field. This reddish tinge is usually a faint pink or crimson wash located on the lower abdomen, and it is most noticeable only when the bird is seen from a specific angle or in good light. This faint mark means the bird is more reliably identified by its “zebra-striped” back and the extent of the red on its head.
Habitat and Foraging Behavior
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are habitat generalists, thriving in a variety of wooded areas, including mature deciduous forests, mixed pine-hardwood stands, and heavily timbered bottomlands. Their adaptability has allowed them to colonize wooded suburbs, city parks, and even areas with sparse tree cover, a factor that aided their recent range expansion. They are primary cavity nesters, meaning they excavate their own nest holes, typically choosing dead trees or dead limbs of live trees.
The diet of this woodpecker is diverse, reflecting its omnivorous nature. While they primarily consume arthropods like insects, spiders, and beetle larvae, they also readily eat a wide variety of plant material. This includes wild berries, fruits, nuts, seeds, and even tree sap, with their diet shifting seasonally to take advantage of the most abundant food sources.
Foraging involves several techniques, such as gleaning insects from the surface of bark, probing into crevices with their long, sticky, barbed tongues, or catching flying insects mid-air. They also engage in food caching, storing items like nuts, acorns, and seeds deep in bark crevices and holes in posts for later consumption. This caching behavior is most frequent during the fall and helps ensure their survival through the colder months when other foods are scarce.
Their loud, rolling calls and rhythmic drumming are used for communication and to attract mates. These sounds are often the first sign of their presence, even before the bird itself is visually located.