There is a certain enigma surrounding woodpecker birds that we can’t quite put our finger on. Whenever we hear their distinct knocking, we feel compelled to pause, gaze upward, and attempt to catch a glimpse of them.
As we strain to locate the source of the sound, countless questions race through our minds: what color is it? What is it up to? Will it cease its knocking, or is it just beginning? The woodpecker’s tapping is beguiling, like a tune we can’t resist and a puzzle we must solve.
Belonging to the Picidae family, which comprises roughly 240 species across 35 genera, the woodpecker is remarkably diverse, with each species boasting its own unique characteristics.
One such exquisite bird is the Red-headed Woodpecker, so named for its striking appearance. Its brightly colored plumage makes it stand out from the crowd, with a tricolored suit of red, black, and white feathers.
It possesses a distinctive look, with a vivid crimson head and neck, black wings and back, and white underbelly. It is easy to spot, although it is often confused with the red-bellied woodpecker, which sports a bright orange crown and nape.
For the Red-headed Woodpecker, however, the key is in the colors: its head is a deep shade of crimson, distinguishable from its dark red entirely colored head above the shoulders. This rarity among woodpeckers is truly a sight to behold.
Take a moment to browse photos of this magnificent Red-headed Woodpecker, and let us know if you’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing one in person.
Meet the Red-headed Woodpecker
“The red-headed woodpecker has very distinctive, large color patches with no variegating, striation, or striping,” says Emma Greig – project leader at Project FeederWatch.
Males and females have the same colorful plumages, and newborns have alike markings, but they are brown, black, and white.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird.
Both sexes, male and female, have a length of 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in). Their weight is about 56 to 97 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz), and the average is 76 g (2.7 oz).
A wing length is 12.7–15 cm, and their wingspread is 42.5 cm (16.7 in). The tail length is 6.6–8.5 cm (2.6–3.3 in), the bill is 2.1–3 cm (0.83–1.18 in), and the tarsus is 1.9–2.5 cm (0.75–0.98 in).
Their longevity is a maximum of 9.9 years.
These birds are omnivorous, they can feed on plant and animal matter.
They eat insects, fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and even small rodents and other birds’ eggs. Their favorite food is beechnuts, acorns, pecans, and fruits like pears, apples, mulberries, grapes, etc.
Around two-thirds of their nutrition consists of plants.
Northern birds start to migrate in late October further south during winter, and they are coming back in the breeding season, which begins at the end of April.
They are not considered endangered species.
Its habitat is North America.
If you’re hoping to entice these delightful creatures to make their home on your property, there are a few simple steps you can take. First, consider leaving dead trees on your land, as these provide ideal nesting spots for woodpeckers. Additionally, planting deciduous woodlands can offer a welcome habitat for these birds.
Of course, no woodpecker habitat would be complete without a reliable source of food. While these birds are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, they do have their preferences.
Offering fruits such as apples, berries, and grapes, as well as nuts like acorns and pecans, can be particularly effective at drawing woodpeckers to your property. With a little bit of effort and patience, you can create a welcoming environment that these charming birds will love to call home.
Source: https://www.pupperish.com/
