See Many Additional
Woodpecker Photos in the
Gallery
March
22, 2009 - Food Guy mounted the new nesting box that is made for any
of three different woodpeckers, the red-bellied, hairy , or
red-headed woodpecker. The first two kinds of woodpeckers are
frequent visitors to our backyard trees and feeders. A number
of professional sources differ about the limits for the red-headed
fellow from: not seen, to rarely seen, to nesting, to year-round
resident in our area. We are hoping to see the red-headed woodpecker
in our yard. If nothing else, we look forward to our new birdhouse
being put to good use.
This nesting box comes with wood chips to spread in the bottom to
simulate the bird actually excavating the cavity in a tree and a
start to the nest. The metal plate keeps larger birds from making
the entrance hole bigger.
March
20, 2009 - The red bellied woodpecker male and female have eaten
suet and peanut nuggets from our feeders all fall and winter. We've
never seen multiples of these birds, but sure hope to at least
see some young ones, since we know a little better what to look for
in a baby bird.
Here he is puzzling over frozen maple sap. He pecked gently
at the "syrupcicle", but it fell off anyway. After a few attempts at
the original opening in the branch, he gave up and flew away.
January 4, 2009 - Here is a picture story of two hungry and
surprised woodpeckers. In this area
woodpeckers of all types love suet, a food that is high in fat
and full of energy, keeps a bird warm.
The two paddle suet cages are ideal for supporting a woodpecker's
tail. The larger woodpeckers especially appreciate this.
The added brace makes it easier to hammer their beaks into the suet.
The red-bellied woodpecker is sometimes called zebra-backed.
Many feel this would be a better name than the one he does have.
The red belly is hard to see when he is pressed against a tree trunk.
We have managed to take some pictures showing this feature, as he often
twists enough at the feeders to expose his belly.
We see this woodpecker in early morning , when he enjoys peanut suet
and peanut nuggets. He comes down our maple tree, reaches across to the
feeders, eats his fill, and does the woodpecker climb back up the trunk.
Unlike other woodpeckers, the red-bellied ones add vegetation and
fruit, tree frogs, small birds and their eggs, to their regular
diet of insects and nuts.
He is known to be the king of the feeders. We have not noticed
any aggressive activity, but the white-breasted nuthatches and downies
do seem to respectfully bow away if the red-bellied woodpecker comes to
dine. We think we offer plenty of variety and quantity for all the
flyers, hoppers and runners in our backyard (okay, we don't
intentionally put tree frog on the menu).
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Size:
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Length: 9.25-10.5 in
Weight: 2.2 oz Wingspan: 16
in
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ID:
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Male: Back, shoulders and wings black with white bars; red
crown extends from nape to base of beak; pale grayish tan face,
chin and underparts; faint wash of red low on belly and between
legs; black, pointed beak; gray feet zygodactylous (feet with
two toes forward and two facing back)
Female: Same as male, but red patch on nape only, crown is gray
Juvenile: Similar to adult, but head is brownish with no
red
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Habitat:
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Woodlands, parks and residential areas with mature, deciduous
trees
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Diet:
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Insects, nuts, berries, seed; feeders for peanut products,
seeds, fruit and suet; stores food by wedging in crevices;
occasionally ground feeds; usually works up the tree trunk
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits: Monogamous; solitary nester; 1 brood per year
Nests: Excavates in living trees, abandoned holes in poles,
posts and stumps, and birdhouses; built by male and female
Eggs: 4-5 plain white eggs; incubation 12-14 days by female
during the day and male at night
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless, naked, eyes closed) and
stay in nest 22-27 days; fed by both parents
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Social Activities:
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Nests and roosts at night in tree cavities; red belly
difficult to see in the field
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Range:
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Eastern US on west to the Great Plains, except New England
area (now expanding into this area)
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Vocalization:
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Loud, rich churr, churr, churr; medium speed and length
drumming; call chuck
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Lifespan: |
Up to 12 years |
