# Red-headed Woodpecker (*Melanerpes erythrocephalus*) The Red-headed Woodpecker is a colorful bird with a bright red head and a black and white body. They love to peck on trees to find yummy bugs to eat! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 53 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red-headed Woodpecker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melanerpes_erythrocephalus_-tree_trunk-USA.jpg&width=800) Photo: colleen, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melanerpes_erythrocephalus_-tree_trunk-USA.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-headed Woodpecker has an unmistakable, vibrant crimson head and throat. Its body is starkly divided with a glossy blue-black back and wings, contrasted by brilliant white underparts and large white patches on its secondary feathers. This striking pattern makes it easy to identify. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Melanerpes ## Interesting facts - Their bright red head makes them one of North America's most colorful woodpeckers. - These birds use dead trees called 'snags' to find food and make cozy nests. - They can sometimes catch and eat small rodents or even other birds! - Unlike most birds, they sometimes nest in utility poles or fence posts if trees are scarce! ## Special abilities - **Cache Master:** Red-headed Woodpeckers can wedge acorns, nuts, and even live insects into tree crevices because they have specialized bill movements that help them store food for later. - **Mid-air Acrobat:** Red-headed Woodpeckers are expert aerial insect hunters, snatching flying insects mid-air with agile flight, which helps them catch prey other birds miss. - **Tree Home Builder:** Red-headed Woodpeckers can excavate their own nest cavities in dead trees, creating safe homes for their chicks because of their strong bills and necks. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-24 cm - **Wingspan:** 42-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.07-0.09 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding These omnivorous woodpeckers enjoy a diverse menu of insects, fruits, seeds, and nuts. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Acorns, Berries, Nuts, Corn, Small rodents - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Large raptors like hawks occasionally prey on adult woodpeckers. - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — They rely on oak trees for acorns, nesting sites, and insect foraging. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — They consume various insects, including ants found on and in trees. - **Eats:** Highbush Blueberry (*Vaccinium corymbosum*) — They forage on and consume a variety of berries when available. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-headed Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-headed Woodpecker? 20-24 cm ### What is Red-headed Woodpecker's wingspan? 42-45 cm ### How much does Red-headed Woodpecker weigh? 0.07-0.09 kg ### How long does Red-headed Woodpecker live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Red-headed Woodpecker move? 45 km/h ### What does Red-headed Woodpecker eat? These omnivorous woodpeckers enjoy a diverse menu of insects, fruits, seeds, and nuts. ### Where is Red-headed Woodpecker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see Red-headed Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-headed-woodpecker) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-headed Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-headed-woodpecker)