The Red Bellied Woodpecker © 2006

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

The red bellied woodpecker is a common visitor to our birdfeeder in winter, along with Blue Jays, cardinals and many other birds. The woodpecker nests in holes it drills out with its bill in trees or tree limbs. In spring, especially, you can hear them drum as they establish territories and seek mates.

The woodpecker is a valuable bird in the forest. They climb over the bark of trees, looking for insects to eat. They usually start at the base of the tree and climb, ever searching. When they finish one tree, they move to the next.

The red bellied woodpecker will also excavate grubs from dead or dying trees. In this way, the tree is torn apart and breaks down faster, returning its nutrients to the forest.

They will also drill holes in trees to hide acorns. They will drill a small hole, inter a single acorn, and repeat the process.

The red bellied woodpecker also eats seeds, making it omnivorous. It will enjoy the seed in a bird feeder and will become a welcome visitor to the garden. It will also eat insects, sometimes plucking them out of mid air as the fly around. Some fruits and berries also make up the diet of the woodpecker.

They live and breed in deciduous forest of the east and southeast. The male will excavate several cavities in dead trees, the female selects one to lay eggs in and here they rear the young.

The red bellied woodpecker is usually a permanent resident, not migrating except during periods of extreme cold when it may move south.

The red bellied wood pecker is a colorful visitor to the garden. They may be attracted to the garden habitat by providing a feeder and planting trees.

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