Red-bellied Woodpecker

Overview
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Medium woodpecker, black-and-white barred upperparts, pale gray-brown underparts with indistinct red wash on belly. Head has bright red crown and nape, pale brown face. White rump, white wing patches, and white-barred central tail feathers are visible in flight.

Range and Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Breeds from South Dakota, Great Lakes, and southern New England south to the Gulf Coast and Florida. Northernmost birds sometimes migrate south for winter. Inhabits open and swampy woodlands; comes into parks during migration and to feeders in winter.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a large range, estimated globally at 3,000,000 square kilometers. Native to North America and the Bahamas, this bird prefers forest, savanna, and wetland ecosystems, though it can reside on plantations or in rural and urban areas. The global population of this bird is estimated at 10,000,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Red-bellied Woodpecker is Least Concern.

INTERESTING FACTS
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are attracted to noises that resonate. The male will tap loudly on metal gutters, aluminum roofs and even vehicles to attract a mate. The European Starling will often evict the Red-bellied Woodpecker from its nest. The male has a wider tongue tip and longer bill than the female, allowing him to reach deeper into crevices to find prey. Studies have shown the male forages on the tree trunk, while the female forages mostly on limbs. A group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including a "descent", "drumming", and "gatling" of woodpeckers.