They breed from southern Canada to Gulf Coast, east of the Rocky Mountains and west of New England and eastern Canada. They may spend the winter in the southern part of their range.
They live in open woods, farms, and orchards.
They are a mid-sized woodpecker, with a red head. They have a black back, wings and tail and bright white wing and rump patches.
They perch on dead standing trees watching for insects. They catch insects in flight.
They also eat seeds, nuts, berries, fruit, insects, bird eggs, nestlings, and even mice. They are thought to be the most omnivorous woodpecker.
They nests in dead tree holes. Females lay 4 - 7 eggs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves/Subclass: Neornithes
Order: Piciformes
Suborder: Pici
Family: Picidae/Subfamily: Picinae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species: M. erythrocephalus
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Amsel, Sheri. "Woodpecker (Red-headed)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
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