Species BirdsRed-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

CommonBird
Illustration of Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a boldly barred black-and-white woodpecker of eastern North America with a bright red cap, though its namesake red belly patch is barely visible. It has a remarkably long tongue — extending up to 2 inches past the bill tip — tipped with a sticky barb for extracting insects. This adaptable species has expanded its range northward over recent decades.

Habitat
Deciduous forests, suburban woodlands, and parks
Diet
Insects, nuts, fruit, and occasionally small lizards
How common
Common

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