Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Melanerpes carolinus)

Conservation Status
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Photo by Ramona Abrego
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The male has a red cap extending from the bill to the nape of the neck. The female has a red patch on the nape, a small red patch above the bill, and a gray cap.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

9 to 10½ in length

16 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
  No similar species  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Mature deciduous woodlands, wooded residential areas

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

 

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Sometimes seen at bird feeders in the fall taking black oil sunflower seeds.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common year-round resident

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Piciformes (woodpeckers, barbets, and allies)  
 

Family

Picidae (woodpeckers)  
 

Subfamily

Picinae  
 

Genus

Melanerpes (Melanerpes Woodpeckers)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

No subspecies are currently recognized, although it is widely agreed that more study is needed. Some authorities recognize four subspecies. Under tthis classification, only Western Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus zebra) has a range extending into Minnesota.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Centurus carolinus

Centurus carolinus carolinus

Centurus carolinus harpaceus

Centurus carolinus perplexus

Centurus carolinus zebra

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Luciearl

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker   Red-bellied Woodpecker  
           
    Red-bellied Woodpecker      
 

Mitch Nielsen

 
 

he came on our deck and took a pretzel twist

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker   Red-bellied Woodpecker  
 

Gregory Gilman

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker      
 

Ramona Abrego

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker   Red-bellied Woodpecker  
           
    Red-bellied Woodpecker   Red-bellied Woodpecker  
 

Trisha

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker      
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

Female, at the feeders outside of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

 
    Red-bellied Woodpecker   Red-bellied Woodpecker  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker
Allen Chartier
 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker  
  Red-bellied Woodpecker
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker  
  Red-bellied Woodpecker
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker  
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker Family Affairs
Samuel Kulp
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 8, 2012

A documentary of a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers building their nest, feeding the young, and some fledgling behavior after leaving the nest.

 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker
Jeff Bouton
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 10, 2014

They really do have Red bellies!

 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker Leaving Nest
WEGE33
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 23, 2011

This video was recorded in Eastern Massachusetts in late May. The adults are making frequent food deliveries to the nestlings who are near fledging. The caterpillars of an invasive moth that is doing major damage to our woodlands accounted for most of their diet during this period. The video was shot with a Canon EOS 7d and 600mm f4L Canon lens and is best viewed in full HD.

 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker calling from his Nest ~ April 20, 2013 ( in HD )
my35Xvision
 
   
 
About

Published on May 26, 2013

Red-bellied Woodpecker calling from his Nest ~ April 20, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/user/my35Xvision -- back to my channel

Filmed by my35Xvision in Duke Island Park on 4/20 2013

Red-bellied Woodpecker:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Woodpecker

 
  Red bellied Woodpecker - February 6, 2014
Don Gagnon
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 6, 2014

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Wilderness Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Pottersville, Somerset, Massachusetts, Thursday morning, February 6, 2014, 7:00 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_72598; 1:14 min.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Luciearl
5/3/2021

Location: Cass County

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Mitch Nielsen
2/26/2021

Location: Willmar, MN

he came on our deck and took a pretzel twist

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Gregory Gilman
5/30/2020

Location: Rochester, MN

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Ramona Abrego

Location: Washington County

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Paula
4/5/2019

Location: Fort Ripley Mn

 

 
  Janders1955
2/19/2019

Location: St. Louis Park, MN

Backyard suet feeder

 

 
  Ramona Abrego
10/27/2018

Location: Becker County

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Luciearl
10/17/2018

Location: Cass County

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  debbiecat0420
3/24/2018

Location: Orono, Mn

 

 
  Luciearl
2/18/2018

Location: Lake Shore, MN

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Susan
1/9/2018

Location: Maple Grove, MN (Fish Lake)

bird feeder

 

 
  Trisha
12/9/2016

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
  Joan and Rick
10/15/2016

Location: Holyoke, MN (20 miles south of Duluth)

Seen on our suet feeders.

 

 
  John & Susan
12/4/2015

Location: Louisville Twp. (Shakopee area)

Beautiful red naped/capped male came to bird feeders.

 

 
  John Hanson
11/21/2015

Location: 5 miles south of Rochester, Mn

feeding on my suet feeders and black oiled sunflower seeds

 
  Kirk Nelson
10/17/2015

Location: Bloomington, MN

Female, at the feeders outside of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit

Big Woods Heritage Forest WMA

Blaine Preserve SNA

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

Blue Devil Valley SNA

Boot Lake SNA

Bur Oak WMA

Burnsville, MN

Cannon River Trout Lily SNA

Cannon River Wilderness Area

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Carver Park Reserve

Chamberlain Woods SNA

Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA

Chimney Rock SNA

Clear Lake SNA

Cleary Lake Regional Park

Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA

Crosstown West Park

Crystal Spring SNA

Des Moines River SNA

Edward Velishek Memorial WMA

Frontenac State Park

Glacial Lakes Preserve

Great River Bluffs State Park

Grey Cloud Dunes SNA

Hampton Woods WMA

Hastings Sand Coulee SNA

Hastings SNA

Interstate State Park

John Murtaugh Memorial WMA

John Peter Hoffman Spring Brook Valley WMA

Joy Park

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Keller Regional Park

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King’s and Queen’s Bluff SNA

Lake Byllesby Regional Park

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Maria State Park

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

Lakeville, MN

Lawrence Creek SNA

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

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Minnesota Valley NWR, Chaska Unit

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Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

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Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

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Prairie Creek WMA, Koester Prairie Unit

Rice Lake State Park

Ritter Farm Park

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Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve

Rockville County Park

St. Croix Savanna SNA

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Seven Springs WMA

Seven Mile Creek County Park

Spring Lake Regional Park

Springbrook Nature Center

Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve

Sunfish Lake Park

Terrace Oaks West

Townsend Woods SNA

Twin Lakes SNA

Upper Sioux Agency State Park

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Binoculars

 

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