Red-headed Woodpecker

The Red-headed Woodpecker was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th-century work Systema Naturae.

The Red-headed Woodpecker is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, is a small or medium-sized woodpecker from temperate North America. Their breeding habitat is open country across southern Canada and the eastern-central United States. Contents - * 1 Taxonomy * 2 Description * 3 Behavior * 3. More

An unmistakable bird, the Red-headed Woodpecker is striking at rest and in flight, showing its colors of red, black, and white. It is one of the most aggressive members of the family and one of the most omnivorous. Come watch nesting birds at Nestcams. More

Red-headed Woodpecker Illustration Copyright More

The red-headed woodpecker often loses cavities to European starlings. CONSERVATION STATUS Not threatened, but suffers high mortality due to being hit by vehicles when it comes to roads for insects; also suffers in competition with European starlings. More

At one time the Red-headed Woodpecker was targeted by sportsmen because of its brilliant red plumage, as an agricultural pest, and for damage to telephone poles. Its population has decreased as a result of food source losses, as evidenced by population declines in association with the decline of beech trees and the disappearance of Rocky Mountain grasshoppers. Collisions with automobiles were particularly common in the mid-1900s and the species is considered a rare victim of tower collisions. More

Red-headed woodpeckers typically forage alone or in small groups. In the winter they are often found in nut-bearing trees suck as oaks and hickories across southern Canada and the eastern-central United States, including Oklahoma. The number of red-headed woodpeckers that winter in Oklahoma varies greatly depending upon acorn production and weather. In late summer month, this species can be found statewide. This attractive woodpecker feed on seeds, nuts, fruits and insects, such as grasshoppers and others. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker nest box (same as for the Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Hawk Owl) has a 6" by 6" floor, 14" inside ceiling, 2" diameter entrance hole located 11" above the floor and ventilation openings. Hinged roof is secured with shutter hooks. Mount out of reach on a tree on a woodland edge or clearing. Leave a bed of chips in the house. More

The Red-Headed Woodpecker is a lively bird of Eastern forests and parklands. Their striking colors, behavior and willingness to share space with people make them a favorite among many. Red-heads are key to maintaining diversity. They make numerous holes in dead trees, or dead limbs of live trees, for nesting, roosting and caching food. These holes are used later by many other species of birds and wildlife. But...numbers have declined 90% in the last 40 years. More

United States, west to the Red-headed Woodpecker range mapedge of the Great Plains in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Also found in extreme southern Canada from Saskatchewan to New Brunswick. Most common in the mid-western and Gulf Coast states. Winter: Regularly through the southern two-thirds of the breeding range, rarely to the northern limits of the breeding range. More

Red-headed Woodpeckers have a strikingly white rump patch and inner wing (secondaries) patches that are clearly visible in flight and while perched (Sibley 2000). Juveniles have an overall brown color to their head, neck and throat. They obtain the red during their first winter molt (National Geographic Society 1987). The vocalization of the Red-headed Woodpecker is a wheezy "queeah" or "queerp" contact call similar to the Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), but weaker overall. More

Like bluebirds, red-headed woodpeckers are fond of old orchards with dead fruit trees for nesting sites. The nests are in cavities and both parents incubate the eggs. More

Due to the loss of habitat, the Red-headed Woodpecker is a bird rarely seen. Its breeding ground includes woodlands and grasslands throughout North America. When it comes to building a nest, the Red-headed Woodpecker is like a squatter. It would rather take over an abandoned nest than build its own. It will even go so far as to use force to take over another bird's nest. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker occurs east of the Rocky Mountains from extreme southern Canada to the Gulf Coast states. It is easily identified by its bold red, white and black plumage. The adults have black backs, upper wing coverts, primaries and black tails. The breast, belly, and rump are white as are the secondaries which form characteristic white inner wing patches noticeable even when the wings are folded. It is the only woodpecker east of the Rockies with an entirely red head. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker has a large range, inhabiting much of the eastern half of the United States. Native to the United States and Canada, this bird prefers temperate, subtropical, or tropical forest and grassland ecosystems as well as savannas and even rural and urban areas. The global population of this bird is not specifically quantified but shows significant and rapid signs of decline that necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. More

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. They give a tchur-tchur call or drum on territory. Behaviour These birds fly to catch insects in the air or on the ground, forage on trees or gather and store nuts. They are omnivorous, eating insects, seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally even the eggs of other birds. More

the red-headed woodpeckers, which are not as common around home. I took these two red-head pics last fall when I was there in October. Necedah has a lot of good habitat for red-headed wood peckers because of all of the available dead wood in the park. Red-heads use cavities in dead trees and branches, preferably ones with very little bark remaining on them. They also use cracks and crevices in the dead wood to cache food. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker is omnivorous - that's a big word indicating that this woodpecker will eat anything, both animal and vegetable. It is even known to eat mice. This woodpecker is among the most aggressive of woodpeckers and will invade a duck's nest and hole its eggs. It is a naughty bird. Not only that, it will seek out other woodpecker nests and destroy and remove their eggs, but it doesn't stop there. The nest is destroyed, too. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a small or medium-sized woodpecker. Adults have a black back and tail with a red head and neck. Their underparts are mainly white. The wings are black with white secondaries. Adult males and females look alike. Juveniles are similarly shaded, but are mottled with brown. More

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a dramatically patterned bird. At rest and in flight its bright red head contrasts with its bold black and white wings. In addition to eating nuts and berries, this woodpecker is an expert at catching flying insects and is one of the few woodpeckers that will cache (store) food for the winter months. It breeds from south-central Canada across the eastern United States and withdraws to the southern portion of its range in the non-breeding season. More

Appropriately named, the red-headed woodpecker is easily spotted by its red head, black body, and prominent white wing patches. Its breeding range covers most of the eastern United States north into Canada. The northern third of the population may migrate south, depending on food scarcity. This woodpecker inhabits a wide variety of habitats, ranging from seemingly inhospitable environments like burned forests and flooded bottomland forests to the expected orchards, parks and open deciduous woods. More

Red-headed Woodpecker has bright red head, neck and throat. Underparts are white. Back is bluish black. It shows a large white patch on the wings, and rump is white. Tail is black, with white outer feathers. Bill is blue grey. Eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are bluish grey, with zygodactylous feet. Both sexes are similar, male is slightly larger than female. Juvenile is brownish. It has grey head and two black wing bars on white secondary’s feathers. More

Red-headed Woodpecker - December 2003 Species of the Month - - This woodpecker is typically seen perched on tree trunks or limbs and its brightly colored red head can be thought of as festive decor against an evergreen background for the winter holiday season. The red-headed woodpecker was a common species throughout the Northeast during the late 1700s through the early 1900s. More

Red-headed Woodpeckers have been known to expand the openings of hole-nesting birds More

Red-headed woodpeckers nest in holes excavated in partially decayed trees that are usually barkless. In treeless regions they also nest on telephone poles, fence posts, open sheds, bird houses, and even old wagon wheels and water pumps. Nest cavities are found anywhere from 6 feet to 80 feet above ground. Cavity excavation takes approximately 2 weeks from start to finish. There are instances reported when red-headed woodpeckers opt to use existing cavities as their nesting place instead of digging a new one. More

* Red-headed Woodpecker at suet feeder0:08 * Ajouter à la file d'attente Ajoutée à la file d'attente Red-headed Woodpecker at suet feeder1577 vuestoledotalk * Male and Female Pileated Woodpeckers1:01 * Ajouter à la file d'attente Ajoutée à la file d'attente Male and Female Pileated Woodpeckers3202 vuespsychoticnrg More

The red-headed woodpecker is both sedentary and migratory within its breeding range. It nests in the cavities of dead trees up to 80 feet above the ground. The male selects the cavity site and both sexes share in building the nest and incubating the eggs. Clutch size is 4 to 8 eggs and parents will raise 1 or 2 broods per season. Incubation lasts 12 to 14 days and nestlings hatch completely naked and helpless. More

Red-headed Woodpeckers will eat insects, spiders, earthworms, mice, nuts, berries and corn. You can attract these bird to your feeders by providing black oil sunflower seeds and suet. You can see a selection of suet feeders here. These birds have the ability to catch insects in midair, as well as foraging on leaves and on the ground. You'll find that they cache pieces of nuts and acorns, also insects, in small cavities for use during nonbreeding season. More

Red-headed Woodpecker is a widespread cavity nester of the eastern United States, whose range extends into eastern New Mexico. Species populations have shown long-term declines, probably associated with loss of suitable nesting habitat. More

Range: The Red-headed Woodpecker lives in southern Ontario where it is widespread but rare. Outside Ontario, it lives in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec and it is relatively common in the United States. Range Maps Threats: The Red-headed Woodpecker population has declined by more than 60%in Ontario in the last 20 years because of habitat loss due to forestry and agricultural practices, and competition from European Starling for nest sites. More