Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
Also called zebra woodpecker.
Badly named, and the cause of endless confusion: the red belly is a faint wash almost never visible, while the red on the head is obvious. People reasonably call it a red-headed woodpecker, which is a different bird entirely.
- Size
- Robin to jay — 22–27 cm
- Bill
- Chisel-like
- Where
- feeder, woodland, yard
- Season
- year round
What it looks like
A finely barred black-and-white back, pale grey face and underparts, and a red cap running from the bill over the crown to the nape on the male, or only on the nape on the female.
The checks that confirm it
- A black-and-white ladder-barred back — the 'zebra' pattern.
- Red on the nape, extending forward over the crown on males.
- Plain pale grey face and chest.
- The red belly is a faint pinkish smudge and is rarely seen.
Voice
A rolling 'churr' and a harsh 'cha-cha-cha'. Drums in steady even bursts.
Attracting it
Suet, peanuts and sunflower. Also takes fruit and will visit hummingbird feeders.
Confused with
An entirely crimson head, a solid black back and huge white wing patches. There is no barring anywhere.
Brown, spotted below, with a black bib and it feeds on the ground.
Questions about this bird
How do you identify a red-bellied woodpecker?
A black-and-white ladder-barred back — the 'zebra' pattern. Red on the nape, extending forward over the crown on males.
What does a red-bellied woodpecker sound like?
A rolling 'churr' and a harsh 'cha-cha-cha'. Drums in steady even bursts.
How do you attract a red-bellied woodpecker?
Suet, peanuts and sunflower. Also takes fruit and will visit hummingbird feeders.