Red - Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) – Deceptively
Named Tree Tapper
Did you Know?
They can stick their tongue out past the end of the
beak nearly 5cm.
The name refers to a light reddish patch on the
belly which we often do not see.
Young Red- bellied Woodpeckers do not have any
red colouring on their heads.
Photo: Brian Popelier 2015
Habitat – Forested areas both coniferous and deciduous with large trees. Also found in golf courses,
parks, and yards. Need areas with larger trees that have cavities for nesting.
Size – These birds average between 22-27 cm in length, with a 38-46 cm wingspan. They weigh
approximately 72-75 grams.
Range – Found in eastern Canada and eastern United States.
Status – S5 – Common and stable in Canada and Ontario.
Diet – Insects, nuts, seeds, berries, other birds
eggs, tree frogs and minnows.
Identification:
A medium sized bird with distinguishing black and
white zebra pattern on the back and tail. Patches
of red on the head, belly and above the beak.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy | PO Box 857 Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9 | 1.800.665.4453 | [email protected]
Males have more red on the head. The rest of the body is a dull grey. Vocalizations include a loud “querr
querr”, a gruff “cha cha cha” or several other calls. They also make sound by hammering their beaks
against trees called drumming.
Photo: Brian Popelier 2015
Interesting Facts
They will store their food away for a later time. By using cracks and hollows in trees or man-made items
such as fenceposts, they will stash away and hide nuts or seeds to be enjoyed in the following days or
weeks.
These woodpeckers require holes in trees made by other birds to nest in and raise their young. This is
called cavity nesting. Red-bellies will often invade occupied cavities and chase away the unfortunate
dweller. On the other hand they can also be driven off as well usually by the non-native European
Starling.
The male and female have different tongues. The males is wider and he has a longer beak. They both
have a barbed end on the tongue. This is believed to be so the sexes can forage in different places to
utilize the food resources more efficiently in their habitat. Males often forage on tree trunks whereas
the female uses the branches and limbs.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker on the Niagara Escarpment
These birds do not migrate so you can spot them year-round along the entire length of the trail. Look for
a flash of red on tree trunks or in the forest canopy on your hikes and you may just see one walking up
and around a tree trunk or branch. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is continually acquiring and protecting
forests and wooded areas along the Niagara Escarpment providing perfect habitat for these birds during
their entire life.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy | PO Box 857 Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9 | 1.800.665.4453 | [email protected]