Most abundant in pine lands and bottom woods of the Southeast, the red-bellied woodpecker is common in open woodlands and residential areas of eastern North America, from southernmost Canada to Florida; those that breed across northern limits of this range move southward in the winter. Feeding on a wide variety of insects, nuts and berries, the red-belly often visits backyard feeders, especially during the colder months, and it is then that novice or casual birders first notice it.
A bit smaller than the similarly shaped flicker, this woodpecker is identified by his black and white "ladder back", beige underparts and bright red crown (limited to the nape in females); ironically, it is named for a pale red blush on its abdomen which is often invisible in the field. A distinctive, rolling "churrr" usually announces its presence; unlike flickers, the red-bellied woodpecker is seldom found in flocks.
Perhaps this species should have been called the zebraback or red-crowned woodpecker but the power brokers of the bird world make these decisions. Regardless of its name, the red-belly, attractive and beneficial, is always a welcome visitor in our yard!
