Red Bellied Woodpecker - Wildlife Gardeners

BooBooBearBecky · 11-05-2010, 11:06 PM

Red Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Photos taken near out woodpile in mid September.

Now that the black bears are hibernating, I can put my suet feeders back out for the woodpeckers that overwinter here.

suunto · 11-06-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooBooBearBecky

Red Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Photos taken near out woodpile in mid September.

We see these frequently in the winter here, but I've sometimes wondered why they're called 'red-bellied' when most of the red is on their head - to distinguish fro the 'other' red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)? I would suggest calling the latter a 'red-necked woodpecker,' but then people might think it was strictly southern in distribution...

turttle · 11-06-2010, 12:12 PM

I think of them as the "red-mohawked" woodpecker, but that isn't politically correct either! Notice its name includes the epithet "carolinus" - it is a "red-neck"!

I don't have nice photos of mine, but I have a family of red-bellies who live in my woods who successfully raised at least one juvenile this year. I saw both parents with one juvenile a bunch of times at my deck rail feeder late summer/early fall, although I haven't seen them together recently. The juvenile's crest in grey rather than red; I don't know how long before it turns color.

bridget1964 · 11-06-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suunto

We see these frequently in the winter here, but I've sometimes wondered why they're called 'red-bellied' when most of the red is on their head - to distinguish fro the 'other' red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)? I would suggest calling the latter a 'red-necked woodpecker,' but then people might think it was strictly southern in distribution...

Hehehehe! It always confused me, too. I did see a male once on my suet feeder and saw his red belly feathers!

Here are a couple pictures from All About Birds. It says the red patch on the belly is often concealed by surrounding feathers...

dapjwy · 11-06-2010, 05:44 PM

He's adorable, Becky!

dapjwy · 11-06-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suunto

...I've sometimes wondered why they're called 'red-bellied'... I would suggest calling the latter a 'red-necked woodpecker,' but then people might think it was strictly southern in distribution...

I was thinking the same thing (about the belly, not the neck).

LOL! Thanks for the laugh! Hee-HAW!

havalotta · 11-06-2010, 06:15 PM

Ahhh so they DO have red bellies after all!

BooBooBearBecky · 11-06-2010, 06:29 PM

Great photos of the red tummy Bridget1964.

Thanks for the extra information about the Red Bellied Woodpecker everyone. This species is very common in our woodlands, so it's nice to know more about them.

swamp thing · 11-06-2010, 11:38 PM

Somewhere in one of Peterson's books, he mentions it was named by someone examining a tray full of preserved specimens, where the red belly was more obvious, but I can't remember if he was just guessing or not. There are about two dozen woodpeckers in that genus (Melanerpes)

11-05-2010, 11:06 PM	#1
BooBooBearBecky WG Operations, Facilitator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Wisconsin	Red Bellied Woodpecker Red Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Photos taken near out woodpile in mid September. Now that the black bears are hibernating, I can put my suet feeders back out for the woodpeckers that overwinter here. __________________ "Getting your hands dirty is the best way to keep your head clean."

11-06-2010, 12:12 PM	#3
turttle Curious George & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC	I think of them as the "red-mohawked" woodpecker, but that isn't politically correct either! Notice its name includes the epithet "carolinus" - it is a "red-neck"! I don't have nice photos of mine, but I have a family of red-bellies who live in my woods who successfully raised at least one juvenile this year. I saw both parents with one juvenile a bunch of times at my deck rail feeder late summer/early fall, although I haven't seen them together recently. The juvenile's crest in grey rather than red; I don't know how long before it turns color. __________________ Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein Turttle's pollinator garden

11-06-2010, 06:15 PM	#7
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Ahhh so they DO have red bellies after all! __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

11-06-2010, 06:29 PM	#8
BooBooBearBecky WG Operations, Facilitator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Wisconsin	Great photos of the red tummy Bridget1964. Thanks for the extra information about the Red Bellied Woodpecker everyone. This species is very common in our woodlands, so it's nice to know more about them. __________________ "Getting your hands dirty is the best way to keep your head clean."

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11-06-2010, 05:44 PM	#5
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	He's adorable, Becky!

11-06-2010, 11:38 PM	#9
swamp thing Slapping, Swearing, Itching, Scratching Mosquito Bait Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pennsylvania,usa	Somewhere in one of Peterson's books, he mentions it was named by someone examining a tray full of preserved specimens, where the red belly was more obvious, but I can't remember if he was just guessing or not. There are about two dozen woodpeckers in that genus (Melanerpes)