The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a strikingly patterned, mid-sized bird native to North America. It is often described as a “flying checkerboard” due to its bold, distinct color blocks. The adult bird’s entire head, neck, and upper breast are covered in vibrant, solid crimson. This contrasts sharply with an inky black back and tail, a snow-white underside, and large, square white patches on the secondary wings.
Year-Round Geographic Distribution
The Red-headed Woodpecker’s range covers a significant portion of temperate North America. They are found primarily across the eastern and central United States, extending westward from the Atlantic coast. The western boundary of their distribution is the Rocky Mountains and the eastern edge of the Great Plains.
Their range extends north into southern Canada, including portions of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Southward, the species reaches the Gulf Coast, including Texas and Florida. While breeding populations stretch farther north and west during summer, the bird is a permanent resident in much of the central-east United States.
The map area defines where the species can be found. However, the specific location an individual bird inhabits is determined by the presence of a suitable environment, not state lines. The long-term population status of the species has been declining, partly due to habitat loss.
Specific Environmental Preferences
The Red-headed Woodpecker selects a particular kind of landscape within its geographic range. They prefer open woodlands, forest edges, and clearings, contrasting with the habitat of many other woodpecker species. They thrive in savannas, river bottoms, orchards, and farmlands featuring scattered, mature trees.
These woodpeckers typically avoid dense, closed-canopy forests where the understory is thick. They favor areas with tall trees but low stem density in the understory, allowing for open flight paths. They are commonly associated with deciduous woodlands, particularly oak or beech forests, which provide a crucial food source.
The preference for open areas relates directly to their unique foraging strategy. Unlike many woodpeckers that primarily excavate wood for insects, Red-headed Woodpeckers frequently catch insects in the air, a behavior known as flycatching. This aerial hunting requires clear space below the canopy, making parks, golf courses, and riparian zones suitable.
The presence of standing dead trees, known as snags, is a necessity for their preferred habitat. Snags are vital for both nesting and foraging activities. The species is attracted to burn areas, which often leave behind standing trees that have lost their foliage.
Seasonal Migration Patterns
Red-headed Woodpeckers are partial or facultative migrants, meaning their movement patterns change based on conditions. Individuals in the northern and western extremes of the range generally move south and east for the winter. Conversely, those in the central and southern regions are often year-round residents.
The primary factor dictating migration is the availability of food, specifically a good mast crop. If hard mast, such as acorns and beech nuts, is abundant in their breeding area during autumn, birds may choose to overwinter there. If the mast crop fails, they will undertake a short-distance migration to a location where food is more plentiful.
Migration occurs during the day in loose flocks or family groups, predominantly in the fall, from late August to early November. The wintering areas often mirror the breeding habitat, favoring mature forests with large trees. The greatest winter abundance is typically found in the Midwest, where both hard mast and corn crops are available.
Cavity Selection and Nesting Sites
The living space for breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers is a newly excavated or reused tree cavity. They are primary cavity excavators, meaning they drill their own holes for nesting and roosting. Both the male and female participate in the excavation, though the male typically does most of the initial drilling.
They prefer building nests in dead trees or the dead limbs of live trees, with the male often selecting the site. They often choose snags that have lost most of their bark, which may serve as a defense against climbing predators like snakes. Utility poles, fence posts, and even buildings can be used as alternative nest locations.
The resulting nest cavity is typically gourd-shaped, measuring 3 to 6 inches across and 8 to 16 inches deep. The circular entrance hole is approximately 2 inches in diameter. A distinguishing behavior is the frequent reuse of the same nest cavity for several seasons, which is uncommon among many other woodpecker species.
These cavities serve a secondary purpose beyond nesting and roosting, as the Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the few species known to store food. They cache acorns, nuts, and insects in tree crevices and holes, including within the cavity walls, to sustain them through the winter.