Bird’s ID – Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

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. It is rated as least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Endangered species, having been downlisted from near threatened in 2018.

Adults are strikingly tri-colored, with a black back and tail and a red head and neck. Their underparts are mainly white. The wings are black with white secondary remiges. Adult males and females are identical in plumage. Juveniles have very similar markings, but have an all grey head. While red-bellied woodpeckers have some bright 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 dramatically different overall plumage pattern.

These are mid-sized woodpeckers. Both sexes measure from 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) in length, with a wingspan of 42.5 cm (16.7 in). They weigh from 56 to 97 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz) with an average of 76 g (2.7 oz). Each wing measures 12.7–15 cm (5.0–5.9 in), the tail measures 6.6–8.5 cm (2.6–3.3 in), the bill measures 2.1–3 cm (0.83–1.18 in) and the tarsus measures 1.9–2.5 cm (0.75–0.98 in). The maximum longevity in the wild is 9.9 years. They give a tchur-tchur call or drum on their territory.

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 small rodents and even the eggs of other birds. About two thirds of their diet is made up of plants. They nest in a cavity in a dead tree, utility pole, or a dead part of a tree that is between 2.45 and 24.5 m (8.0 and 80.4 ft) above the ground. They lay 4 to 7 eggs in early May which are incubated for two weeks. Two broods can be raised in a single nesting season. Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range, with most having arrived on the breeding range by late April, and having left for winter quarters by late October; southern birds are often permanent residents.

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Tags: Bird's ID, birding, birds, Interesting information, photography, photos of birds, Red-headed woodpecker

27 thoughts on “Bird’s ID – Red-headed Woodpecker”

bayphotosbydonna on February 27, 2019 at 6:46 am said:

Beautiful captures of a gorgeous bird, HJ! We have them here and I love seeing their flash of bright red flying through the woods from tree to tree. 🙂

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 4:52 pm said:
  
  I had them in my backyard for a few years and then left. They are gorgeous. Thank you Donna. 🙂
  
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Christine on February 27, 2019 at 6:52 am said:

So very lovely! ❤

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks Christine. 🙂
  
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kathydoremus on February 27, 2019 at 7:38 am said:

Love these birds!

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm said:
  
  They were nesting in my backyard for some years and then left. I wish they come back! Thank you Kathy. 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on February 27, 2019 at 10:05 am said:

Beautiful photos of a stunning bird, H.J. Thank you for bringing a bright dash of color into my day.

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  Thank you Tanja! And you’re most welcome. 🙂
  
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Dorinda Duclos on February 27, 2019 at 11:34 am said:

Fabulous, H.J.!

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much, Dorinda. 🙂
  
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  - Dorinda Duclos on February 27, 2019 at 5:06 pm said:
    
    Welcome 🙂
aussiebirder on February 27, 2019 at 3:04 pm said:

Thanks HJ for your most informative post on this beautiful bird. The pics are great also.😊

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 5:07 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much Ashley. 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on February 27, 2019 at 3:39 pm said:

Excellent photographs.

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 5:08 pm said:
  
  Thank you my friend Susan 🙂
  
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Clare Pooley on February 27, 2019 at 5:41 pm said:

What gorgeous birds!

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 6:31 pm said:
  
  Thanks Clare! 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on February 27, 2019 at 6:30 pm said:

What a striking bird.

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 27, 2019 at 6:31 pm said:
  
  Thank you Tom! 🙂
  
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silviadeangelis40d on February 28, 2019 at 5:07 am said:

Molto speciale quella “testina rossa”
Buon giovedì e un saluto,silvia

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- H.J. for avian101 on February 28, 2019 at 4:58 pm said:
  
  Grazie Silvia, lo stesso per te. 🙂
  
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Mags on March 1, 2019 at 11:19 pm said:

Great captures of that beautiful bird.

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- H.J. for avian101 on March 2, 2019 at 2:59 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Mags. 🙂
  
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Jet Eliot on March 2, 2019 at 11:43 am said:

We don’t get this stunning bird on the west coast, so what a treat it is here to read about it and observe your photos, HJ. Fantastic photos, such clarity, and capturing the beauty so well.

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- H.J. for avian101 on March 2, 2019 at 3:47 pm said:
  
  You’re right about being stunning. He’s a beauty! Thank you Jet. 🙂
  
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lorriebowden on March 4, 2019 at 12:05 pm said:

Your pics are beautiful of a stunning bird! Thanks for the info too. Hope you are well!

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- H.J. for avian101 on March 4, 2019 at 6:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you Lorrie. 🙂
  
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