Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

A medium sized woodpecker native to the eastern half of North America. In their prefered habitat of deciduous woodlands and tree groves, they can be seen eating insects, fruits and seeds. This species is on the IUCN red list as near threatened due to losses of mature forests with nut crops across its range.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

( Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

The red-headed woodpecker is a medium sized woodpecker native to the eastern half of North America. It is characterised by its name sake bright red head. In addition they have a white underside, black wings and tail with white secondary feathers that give their wings a large white patch. Both sexes are identical in apearance. Like other woodpecker species, they are also cavity nesters.

In their range they can often be found in deciduous woodlands and pine groves. There they will be eating a varied diet of insects, fruits and seeds. They are also unlike many other woodpecker species in the fact that they are very skilled at grabbing insects out of the air. They also include nut crops like acorns in their diet and the diminishing of mature nut producing trees has contributed to their decline.

This species is currently on watch due to their declining populations and are also on the IUCN red list as being near threatened. Major factors contributing to this is the removal of mature oak and beech trees that contribute to their diet and less availible dead trees as people trim and remove these important nesting sites.

Species Overview:

Common Name: Red-Headed Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Measurments: Length- 19 to 23cm. Wingspan- 42cm. Weight- 56 to 91g

Distribution: Eastern half of North America

Habitat: Deciduous forests, pine groves, open woodlots.

Diet: Insects, fruits and seeds.

Source: allaboutbirds.org