Bird · GBIF taxon 2478130
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalusAlso known as Tri-color Woodpecker, Half-a-jack, Jellycoat
Red-headed Woodpeckers stand out with their solid crimson head, stark white belly, and bold black-and-white wings. Unlike most woodpeckers, they frequently catch insects on the wing and cache acorns or seeds into bark crevices for winter. Breeding pairs defend territory in open woodlands and dead tree groves, drumming loudly on wood or resonant metal.
Cavity NesterOmnivorousStriking Pattern
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
- Acorns
Predators
- Cooper's Hawk
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Rat Snake
ThreatsHabitat loss, snag removal, and nest competition from starlings
HabitatsOpen woodlands, oak savannas, pastures, and swamp forests
Life span9 to 12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPicidae
- SpeciesMelanerpes erythrocephalus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a solid red head contrasting sharply with white underparts and black back.
- Support conservation
- Keep distance during spring nesting to avoid disturbing breeding pairs at cavity trees.
Responsible observation
- Scan Dead Trees: Look along forest edges and standing snags where they perch.
- Listen for Calls: Listen for sharp 'tchur-tchur' calls and loud drumming on timber.
Competitor (c) Shiva Shenoy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shiva Shenoy · cc-by
Close Relative "Red bellied Woodpecker" by Manjith Kainickara *manjithkaini.net* is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Dmitry Mozzherin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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