Red-bellied Woodpeckers Melanerpes carolinus
Eastern North America

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found in the eastern half of the United States, extending from the wooded portion of the Great Plain states to the Atlantic coast and from the Gulf of Mexico to southern portions of Ontario and northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York. Populations appear to be increasing throughout most of the range as it is able to adapt to the environment provided by spreading suburbs in many areas. There are an estimated 10,000,000 Red-bellied Woodpeckers across the geographic range, but in many areas it is often evicted from nest holes by the European Starling: in some areas, half of all Red-bellied Woodpecker nesting cavities are taken over by Starlings.

There are slight differences between northern and southern populations: Florida birds, according to the Sibley Guide, average smaller with less white in the tail, and males have brown foreheads rather than red ones - though the forehead of the male in the last two photos (taken in Miami) does appear to be red…

Female, Central Park, New York

Female, Central Park, New York

Male, Central Park, New York

Male, Cranford Park, Miami, Florida

All photos copyright Charlie Moores