Red-bellied Woodpeckers are
in the Piciformes Order in the Picidae family which
consists of Woodpeckers, Honeyguides and Toucans.
They are a medium-sized Woodpecker with a black and
white barred back and tail. They are about 9.25 inches
(23cm). Red-bellied Woodpeckers have
a tan neck, chest and belly. They have a red nape and
males also have a red head. Their rump is white and they
have white uppertail coverts.
P
hoto: Nick Glabicky
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are
very adaptable. They live in deciduous and coniferous
woodland, riparian forests, swamps and parks.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers prefer hardwood forests with
large-diameter trees. They are very common in the
eastern United States. They are found as far west as the
Great Plains and as far north as southern Ontario. They are found year round
in Western New York. Red-bellied Woodpeckers
glean from tree trunks and branches. They have
zygodactyl toes (two in front, two in back) which allows
them to perch on tree trunks while foraging. Red-bellied
Woodpeckers eat mostly arthropods, fruits seeds and sap.
They are generalists and opportunistic foragers.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers nest
in multiple deciduous snags. They
may use the same nest site year to year. Red-bellied
Woodpeckers will also nest in poles and birdhouses, but
can have problems with European Starlings excavating
their nest sites. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a
monogamous mating system. They usually have 1 brood per
year in the north and 2-3 per year in the south.
Both
male and female Red-bellied Woodpeckers will incubate
the 4-5 white eggs the female has laid. It is thought
that males incubate the eggs at night. Incubation lasts
for 12-14 days. The young are altricial when hatched
which means they are blind, immobile and helpless.
Again, both sexes will care for the young for 24-27 days
after the young have hatched.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are
very common in the Western New York area and are easily
found when they give out their loud calls. They can be
easily spotted in the Tift Nature Preserve, Forest
Lawn Cemetery and other wooded areas in any season.
