Birds
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus · also called red-bellied woodpeckers
A backyard birder scans a red-bellied woodpecker at the feeder for the reddish belly its name promises, finds barely a trace of it, and instead settles for the one field mark that never lets anyone down: a bright red cap running from bill to nape.
Overview
The red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus, is an adaptable, omnivorous woodpecker native to deciduous and mixed forest, woodland edges, and suburban yards across the eastern United States. Its famously misleading name, food-caching habit, and steadily expanding range make it one of the more common and quietly fascinating woodpeckers most easterners will meet at their own feeder.
A name that undersells the real field mark
Forget the belly — a red-bellied woodpecker is identified reliably by its bright red cap, a far bolder and more visible feature than the faint reddish wash the species’ name was actually built around.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and increasing, with the species steadily expanding its range northward across the eastern United States.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker: common questions
Why is it called a red-bellied woodpecker if the belly isn't very red?
The faint reddish wash on this species' belly is subtle enough that it is rarely visible in the field, an unfortunate mismatch that leaves the name pointing to one of the least useful field marks, while the bird's bright red cap offers a far more reliable way to identify it at a glance.
How can you tell a male and female red-bellied woodpecker apart?
Males show a more extensive red cap stretching from the bill all the way to the back of the head and down the nape, while females typically show red only on the back of the head and nape, with a paler area at the crown, making cap extent one of the more reliable ways to tell the sexes apart.
Does the red-bellied woodpecker store food for later?
Yes, this species regularly wedges nuts, seeds, and insects into bark crevices to retrieve and eat later, a food-caching habit that helps it get through periods when fresh food is harder to find.
Is the red-bellied woodpecker's range changing?
Yes, it has been steadily expanding northward across the eastern United States in recent decades, a trend researchers believe is aided in part by warming winters and the widespread availability of backyard bird feeders in areas that were previously less hospitable.