Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Woodpeckers & Toucans

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island Birds of Quebec

By family

Woodpeckers of Canada Woodpeckers of the United States Woodpeckers of Alberta Woodpeckers of Manitoba Woodpeckers of Nova Scotia Woodpeckers of Ontario Woodpeckers of Quebec

See what's near you right now

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a member of the Picidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 69.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Piciformes
Family Picidae Woodpeckers
Genus Melanerpes
Species carolinus

Where it lives

Eastern, central, southeastern USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 69.5 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Picidae
Order: Piciformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Main colours Black Buff Red White

Male vs female

Male has continuous red from the bill over the crown to the nape; the female has red only on the nape plus a small separate patch above the bill (nasal area), with a gray crown in between.

Juvenile appearance

Grayer and duller overall, with a horn-colored bill and no red on the head (dusky/brownish crown), unlike the red-capped adults.

Similar birds

Least Concern

Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker

Picoides tridactylus

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of dense woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, part of the order Piciformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA e, c, se USA.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 69.5 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Red-bellied Woodpecker — Call

Recorded by Rory Nefdt Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Red-bellied Woodpecker?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 69.5 g.

Where does the Red-bellied Woodpecker live?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is found across North America with a range covering NA e, c, se USA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Red-bellied Woodpecker belong to?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.

What does the Red-bellied Woodpecker eat?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Red-bellied Woodpecker migrate?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Red-bellied Woodpecker endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Red-bellied Woodpecker make?

1 real field recording of the Red-bellied Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Red-bellied Woodpecker's range?

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 3.1 million km².