Red-headed Woodpecker

(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

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A Field Guide to Eastern Birds. by Roger Tory Peterson.

Return to Eastern Woodpeckers

Color Photograph: Copyright Corel Corp.

Adult

Immature

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Identification: Length from tip of bill to tip of tail 10 inches. Head all red. Breast and abdomen pure white. Wing black with a large white patch. Underside of wing with apex black and basal half white. Tail black.

Similar Species:  The simple coloration with the solid red head and white breast and abdomen make this an easy species to identify.

Breeding Range (see map below): The breeding range of the Red-headed Woodpecker covers most of the eastern and central United States. The species also occurs in southeastern Canada. The breeding range is larger and extends further north than the resident range.

Overwintering Range:  See above.

Habitat: The Red-headed Woodpecker is found in open woods, farms, old orchards, city parks, and country roads.

Food: Insects during the summer, acorns and other nuts during the winter.

Behavior: The Red-headed Woodpecker is a inhabitant of disturbed and open areas. As a result it faces severe competition from aggressive Starlings for nesting holes. This species are sometimes seen hawking insects. The voice is variable and can be a loud kwrrk, churr-churr, or yarrow-yarrow-yarrow.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 5 white eggs. The eggs are layed in a hole in a tree or telephone pole without a nest lining.