Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Their Young Use What Katrina Left
The only good thing that Hurricane Katrina did for Southeastern Louisiana was to leave plenty of broken trees in which the woodpeckers and other cavity nesting birds could raise their young. The Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been very prolific this year and we have photographed much of the day to day comings and goings of a family that nested in a Katrina snag near our house. This lens is a photo journal of the life and habits of a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers and their young.
Our Red-bellied Family
The woodpecker family contains many beautiful birds of varying sizes. One of the most common woodpeckers in our neck of the woods is the medium sized Red-bellied Woodpecker. These colorful birds are permanent residents so we enjoy seeing them all year long. We are lucky to have several breeding pairs in our habitat. Some of them have become quite used to us and have brought their young to the feeding station nearby, allowing us to get some good photos of the whole family and giving us some insight into the habits and family life of the wonderful and intelligent birds.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker Male Red-bellied Woodpecker
Description from All About Birds
Red-bellied Woodpeckers range includes most of the Eastern half of the United States.
Listen to the Sounds of the Red-bellied Woodpecker from the PWRC USGS.
Differences Between the Sexes
The male has a red hood extending to the forehead. The female has a red nape only. The male Red-bellied Woodpecker has a longer bill and a longer, wider tongue tip than the female. These adaptations may allow the male to reach deeper into furrows to extract prey and may allow the sexes to divide up the resources in one area.
- Medium to large-sized woodpecker.
- Red hood from top of head to back of neck.
- Back barred black and white.
- Size: 24 cm (9 in)
- Wingspan: 33-42 cm (13-17 in)
- Weight: 56-91 g (1.98-3.21 ounces)
Listen to the Sounds of the Red-bellied Woodpecker from the PWRC USGS.
Differences Between the Sexes
The male has a red hood extending to the forehead. The female has a red nape only. The male Red-bellied Woodpecker has a longer bill and a longer, wider tongue tip than the female. These adaptations may allow the male to reach deeper into furrows to extract prey and may allow the sexes to divide up the resources in one area.
Habitat and Diet
The Red-bellied Woodpecker inhabits forests, groves, orchards, farmland and suburbs. According to Sibley, "Woodpeckers tend to be habitat specialists; as such, they are to some extent at risk of extinction when their habitat is threatened." Breeding Bird Survey data reports show that while other woodpecker numbers have dropped, Red-bellied Woodpecker numbers are increasing. We have certainly seen an increase in numbers of all of the six species of woodpeckers that inhabit our habitat in Southeastern Louisiana, mainly because of the extraordinarily large numbers of dead and decaying pine trees that were left after Hurricane Katrina tore a path of destruction through our area. There were so many trees down that we couldn't move them all without destroying what was left of the under story. So today a wide variety of birds and animals take advantage of the "Katrina log" feeders that we made from the debris.
Many woodpeckers stash or store food in the cracks and crevices in trees and Red-bellied woodpeckers are one that does, but this species does not appear to defend these stashes against mammals or other birds. They also use holes in trees to anchor a tough seed or nut so that it can be broken open. We were able to capture a male Red-bellied "teaching" one of his young ones just how to do this.
Many woodpeckers stash or store food in the cracks and crevices in trees and Red-bellied woodpeckers are one that does, but this species does not appear to defend these stashes against mammals or other birds. They also use holes in trees to anchor a tough seed or nut so that it can be broken open. We were able to capture a male Red-bellied "teaching" one of his young ones just how to do this.
Red-bellied Eating Mulberries Vid
Breeding
Like most woodpeckers, Red-bellied woodpeckers are monogamous and territorial. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters who drill out a new nesting cavity each year. Red-bellieds will also nest in birdhouses, but don't do so often. We have seen them roost in a Bluebird size nest box that they enlarged the hole in. They often have a cavity for breeding in the spring and another one that they drill out in the fall for roosting. It usually takes about 2 weeks to excavate the cavity.
The hole of the nest cavity usually faces north here in the hot, humid south so that the nest will not become overheated by the afternoon sun. The nesting cavity consists of a narrow (just wide enough for the woodpecker) horizontal entrance to a larger vertical cavity where the 2-6 (usually 4) white eggs are laid on a bed of wood chips.
Both the male and female incubate the eggs for 12 days. The chicks are altrical (blind and naked at birth) and fledge from 24-27 days. Both parents care for the young.
As the chicks grow, the parents frantically go back and forth to the feeders and the woods to bring food to stuff into the gaping mouths.
The hole of the nest cavity usually faces north here in the hot, humid south so that the nest will not become overheated by the afternoon sun. The nesting cavity consists of a narrow (just wide enough for the woodpecker) horizontal entrance to a larger vertical cavity where the 2-6 (usually 4) white eggs are laid on a bed of wood chips.
Both the male and female incubate the eggs for 12 days. The chicks are altrical (blind and naked at birth) and fledge from 24-27 days. Both parents care for the young.
As the chicks grow, the parents frantically go back and forth to the feeders and the woods to bring food to stuff into the gaping mouths.
Woodpecker Nest Box
Hairy, Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpecker House
Amazon Price: $40.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Changing of the Guard Vid
The Chicks Fledge
Woodpecker parents will often divide the fledglings between them when foraging and we have observed this on several occasions. Many times the fledglings will stay with the parents until fall, even though they may not be dependent on them.
As fledglings mature, the parents teach them how to find their own food and how to store food. The father patiently models the behavior at the log feeder and the storage cavity that will help the young ones survive. Dad begins to look tired, but finally, one by one, the babies finds food for itself.
As fledglings mature, the parents teach them how to find their own food and how to store food. The father patiently models the behavior at the log feeder and the storage cavity that will help the young ones survive. Dad begins to look tired, but finally, one by one, the babies finds food for itself.
Predators and Usurpers
Sharp-shinned-Hawk by WildThings
Woodpecker parents will aggressively defend their nests and young. They harass a predator with alarm calls and may even attack predators that come near the nest.
Pecks of Woodpecker Books
Amazon Error: Could not open remote connection
Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.Red-bellied Woodpecker Speaks Vid
Red-bellied Woodpeckers at Zazzle
More Facts About Red-bellied Woodpeckers from Wiki
The Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus, is a medium-sized woodpecker of the Picidae family. It breeds in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. Its common name is somewhat misleading, as the most prominent red part of its plumage is on the head; the Red-headed Woodpecker however is another species that is a rather close relative but looks entirely different.
It was first described in Linnaeus' Systema Naturae, as Picus carolinus."Picus pileo nuchaque rubris, dorso fasciis nigris, rectricibus mediis albis nigro punctatis. ... Ani regio rubra punctata." - "Woodpecker with red cap and nape, back with black bands, central tail feathers white with black spots. Anal region spotted red." (Linneaus, 1758). The type locality is given simply as "America septentrionalis" (North America).
__TOC__
Category: Image - :Red-bellied_Woodpecker_Female.jpg|thumb|left|Adult female - showing reddish belly.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Art Print
by Roger Tory Peterson
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Art Poster by Roger Tory Peterson, size 11.75" x 14.75"
Amazon Price: $27.75 (as of 11/24/2009)
Endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker Books
Another of our Southeastern Louisiana woodpeckers, the Red-cockaded, has not faired as well as the Red-bellied. Much of it's Long-leaf Pine habitat was destroyed by logging. Small pockets of suitable habitat are being protected by the Nature Conservancy so that this lovely woodpecker can stage a comeback.
Woodpecker Blogs
- Red Bellied Woodpecker on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- Red Bellied Woodpecker. ... dkvet says: Beautiful woodpecker!Here I have orange ones, but I´m always too far to take a good photo.. yours is great: love the colors, the bokeh and the framing! Posted 21 hours ago. ( permalink ) ...
- Red-Bellied Woodpecker on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- Rainy Day here in PA, the yard has a few visitors. This fella is around quite a bit. Having a little snack. I was playing with the noise reduction and af modes in the 7D after quite a few messages about its performance and lots of busy ...
- Mine! - Steve's Digicams Forums
- This Red-bellied Woodpecker did NOT receive good grades in "Plays well with others". Vicious li'l bugger! On the other hand..
- JAKE and RUTH'S PHOTO BLOG: Red-bellied Woodpecker
- The red bellied woodpeckers are always exciting to see. There is a couple (are they married) in my favorite park in our vacation spot. I really look good while in the area that I have seen them. Just wish I could get closer (better ...
Woodpeckers Double Sided Print
Search for the Ivory-billed
I couldn't write a lens about a Louisiana woodpecker without mentioning the Ivory-billed. There have been two possible sightings of this rare and unique bird. One sighting was in the Pearl River Swamp area, which is not very far from where we live. (We can only hope!) The other was in a large, almost pristine forest in North Louisiana in Tensas Parish. And the search goes on.
Books About the Search for the Ivory Billed
Woodpeckers on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Woodpecker Books for the Fledglings
Peck Out a Note to Us.
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Reply
- RuralRoute2 RuralRoute2 Dec 20, 2008 @ 6:14 am
- We have Red Bellies coming to our bird feeders all the time. You've really done a great job on this lens. 5 *s.
LeAnn
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Reply
- AndyPo AndyPo Nov 25, 2008 @ 7:34 am
- Excellent lens and photos. On my trip to America earlier this year I saw lots of woodpeckers, in the national parks, but I'm not an expert on American birds, so I struggled to identify which ones I had seen. Beautiful birds though and great fun to watch.
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Reply
- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Oct 26, 2008 @ 5:23 am
- The Red-headed Woodpecker is not real common anymore, but I have a couple that come to my suet feeder in the winter. What would it be like to see an Ivory-billed? There are rumors...
Great lens
Lizzy
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- tdove tdove Sep 24, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Aug 24, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
- Please thank the Red Bellied Woodpecker for knocking on my door. Another outstanding lens by a great lensmaster.
Thank you for taking a A Walk in the Woods with us.
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