TaxonHub

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

A medium-sized woodpecker native to eastern and central North America, characterized by its distinctive red crown and pale reddish wash on its belly.

ADSENSE SLOT

Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, suburban areas, parks, and gardens with mature trees across eastern United States

Important ecosystem role in forest dynamics, insect population control, and serving as a prey/predator species in woodland food webs

SKIN COAT Primarily black and white barred plumage with pale reddish-pink belly, males have more extensive red crown compared to females
LIMBS WINGS Strong zygodactyl feet with two toes forward and two backward for gripping tree trunks, rounded wings for agile forest navigation
HEAD SENSORY Robust skull with specialized shock-absorbing adaptations, long tongue with barbed tip for extracting insects from tree bark
BODY STRUCTURE Compact bird, approximately 22-26 cm in length, weighing 56-72 g, with a strong, chisel-like beak for drilling into wood

Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: Ken Thomas

ADSENSE VERTICAL

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Melanerpes formicivorus

Dendrocopos major