Identifying Red-bellied Woodpeckers:

Measuring roughly 9.5 inches in length and featuring a long straight, chisel-like bill roughly the same length as its head, the Red-bellied Woodpecker sports the standard woodpecker build with a square head and long stiff tail used for propping against tree trunks. Both males and females have a white underside with checkered black and white cape down their back. Male Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a bright red patch that runs from the back of the neck all the way up the crown to the bill while the females' red patch breaks at the crown leaving a break of only drab grayish feathers.

Ironically, the Red-bellied Woodpecker gets its name from a feature that can be somewhat hard to distinguish in the field. While difficult to see, these birds do have a patch of feathers on their lower belly that are a washed out red, often more pink or rust in color, and can typically only be seen if the bird is hanging upside-down.

 

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker (above left) / Female Red-bellied Woodpecker (above right).

Where Red-bellied Woodpeckers Live:

Red-bellied woodpeckers are commonly found across the eastern United States. Their range extends from the Atlantic Coast, including states like New York and Florida, to the Midwest, covering areas like Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri, and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. They are also prevalent throughout the Southeastern states and parts of southern New England.

red-bellied woodpecker range map

 

Attracting Red-bellied Woodpeckers to Your Feeder:

Red-bellied woodpecker on CWF28 hopper feeder Red-bellied woodpecker on decorative suet feeder WWSUET-2

Feeders shown: 3 QT Hopper Feeder w/ 2 Suet CagesDecorative Suet Cage Bird Feeder

Red-bellied woodpeckers reside in woodlands, forests, woodlands, and wooded suburbs of the eastern United States. While these woodpeckers commonly eat insects, they have a varied diet also consisting of nuts, acorns, pine cones, and seeds from plants (especially in the winter months). They also consume a range of fruits from grapes to hackberries and oranges.

As with other woodpeckers and insect eating birds, suet is a safe bet when trying to attract these checkered visitors. Suet feeders with extended bases provide space for these bottom-heavy birds to prop their tail for comfortable feeding, much like they would naturally on the trunk of a tree. Peanuts and black oil sunflower are also favorites of the Red-bellied Woodpecker. These can be fed in an open tray feeder for unimpeded bird viewing.

 

Feeders shown: Tail-prop Suet FeederHanging Platform Feeder

In summer months, it is not unusual to see Red-bellied Woodpeckers visiting Oriole feeders with grape jelly or even Hummingbird feeders with nectar.

Nesting:

Nests are constructed in dead trees or in dead limbs of living trees. The same tree may be utilized year after year, but the pair will typically excavate a new nesting cavity each year. The nest is comprised of a simple bed of wood chips left over from the excavation of the cavity. The nesting cavities usually range from 8.5 to 12.5 inches deep with an entry hole of 3.5 to 5 inches.

Depending on weather and geographic location, Red-bellied Woodpecker pairs can have anywhere from 1 to 3 broods in a year. Clutch size can range from 2 to 6 eggs that are smooth white and about 1 inch in length and 0.75 inches wide. Eggs are incubated for roughly 12 days and remain in the nest for an additional 24 days before fledging.

Have you seen any Red-bellied Woodpeckers at your feeders? 

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