Species Profile
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-headed Woodpecker
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Tricolored Woodpecker
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Appearance
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a striking bird with a vibrant red head, neck, and throat.
Its body is distinctly patterned with a black back and tail and large white wing patches contrasting sharply with the black flight feathers. Their bills are bluish-gray, and their eyes are a dark reddish brown. Legs and feet are greenish-gray.
Adults of both sexes share identical plumage. Juveniles differ, having a brown head and neck, and a back with black bars on a white background, gradually molting into adult plumage over their first winter.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Red
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Grey
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Red-headed Woodpeckers inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, and savannas across eastern North America. They prefer areas with abundant dead trees for nesting and foraging, often found in oak and beech forests, pine barrens, and wetland margins.
In the United States, they are most common in the Midwest and Southeast, with some populations extending into southern Canada during the breeding season. Northern populations typically migrate south for winter, while southern birds are often year-round residents.
Distribution
Diet
Red-headed Woodpeckers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Plant-based foods represent around two-thirds of their diet.
They are particularly fond of acorns and beechnuts, which they store for winter. Unlike many woodpeckers, they frequently catch insects in flight and may also opportunistically eat smaller birds' eggs or nestlings, as well as forage on the ground.
Behaviour
Red-headed Woodpeckers are agile flycatchers, often sallying from perches to catch insects in mid-air. They are skilled food hoarders, stuffing nuts and acorns into bark crevices for later consumption.
These woodpeckers are territorial and may aggressively defend their nesting and feeding areas from other birds, including larger species.
Calls & Sounds
Red-headed Woodpeckers have a distinctive, sharp 'tchur' or 'queer' call, often repeated in a series.
Their drumming is loud and resonant, consisting of short bursts that last about half a second. During territorial disputes, they may produce a harsh 'charr-charr' sound.
Nesting & Breeding
Red-headed Woodpeckers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, typically from May to August. Courtship involves chasing and calling displays, often centered around potential nest sites.
Nests are excavated in dead trees or large dead branches, usually 6-20 meters above ground. Both sexes participate in excavation. The female lays 4-7 white eggs in the unlined cavity.
Incubation lasts about 12-14 days, shared by both parents. Nestlings fledge after 24-27 days but may continue to be fed by parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.
Conservation
Red-headed Woodpeckers face threats from habitat loss due to the removal of dead trees and the conversion of open woodlands. Competition with European Starlings for nesting cavities also impacts their populations.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving suitable habitats and maintaining standing dead trees in their range.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for their distinctive tri-color pattern in open woodlands or near forest edges.
- Listen for their sharp 'tchur' call or drumming on dead trees.
- Check utility poles and fence posts in rural areas, as they often use these for perching.
- In the US, visit oak savannas or pine barrens for better chances of spotting them.
Did You Know?
- Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of the few woodpecker species known to cover their eggs with wood chips when leaving the nest.
- They are skilled at catching insects in mid-air, behaving more like flycatchers than typical woodpeckers.
- These woodpeckers have been observed creating wedges in tree bark to store live grasshoppers for later consumption.
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