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Red-Bellied Woodpecker - (Melanerpes
carolinus)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 downy 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
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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
Local Breeding Period: Early April
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 |
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