Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Swamp Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Mast and Snags)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: This woodpecker resides in various wooded habitats, such as forested stream bottoms and dense or open woodlands with large trees, including parks and suburbs. Observations for the Atlas Habitat Survey show that Red-bellied Woodpeckers tend to occur most frequently in mature mesic-to-wet deciduous forest.

The red-bellied selects fairly large trees for nest-cavity placement, with dbh averaging 18 inches and tree height averaging 40 feet. Studies on nest-site characteristics indicate a tendency for this species to select dead limbs on live trees, or recently dead trees which still retain bark and branches. Although one might expect competition with the similar Red-headed Woodpecker, the red-bellied's use of trees in woodlands (instead of trees in openings) and live trees or "new" snags (instead of well-weathered snags with little or no bark) translates to minimal overlap between the two species.

Like others in the genus Melanerpes, this woodpecker caches food such as acorns and nuts.

Habitat: Breeding: Deciduous and coniferous forests and edges; frequents uplands but prefers bottomlands, woodlots near farms and villages, orchards. Wintering: Similar to breeding habitat. Birds are sedentary, remaining on breeding grounds year-round.

Special Habitat Requirements: Extensive mature woodlands with dead trees or trees with large dead limbs for nesting.

Habitat: Woodlands, groves, orchards, towns. Most common in deciduous forest, especially along rivers and in swamps. Also in mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, less often in pure stands of pine. May be found in rather open areas, such as forest edges and clearings, groves of trees in farm country, shade trees in suburbs.

Diet: Omnivorous. Like most woodpeckers, eats many insects. Diet may be more than 50% plant material at some seasons, including acorns and other nuts, wild and cultivated fruits, seeds. Occasional items in diet include tree frogs, eggs of small birds, oozing sap, and even small fish.

Nest: Site is in cavity excavated in dead wood (tree, pole, fencepost, or stump), usually less than 50 feet above ground but can be as high as 120 feet. Male may begin excavating several holes, with female selecting which one is completed and used. Also may use natural cavity, abandoned hole of other woodpecker, or nest box.