Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Pronounced (approx.): mel-uh-NER-peez kar-oh-LYE-nus

Fine black-and-white barring forms a ladder-like pattern. Explore the photographs, learn its field marks, and discover where to look.

Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 1View all 6 photographs ↗
Select the main image to browse the full gallery.

How to recognize it

Three identification clues

01 · FIELD MARK

Barred back

Fine black-and-white barring forms a ladder-like pattern. [1]

02 · FIELD MARK

Red on the head

Males show more extensive red across the crown; females have red mainly on the nape. [1]

03 · FIELD MARK

Pale face and underside

The namesake reddish belly can be subtle and difficult to see. [1]

Field tip: Note the bird’s shape and behavior first, then check its markings. Age, season, and lighting can change its appearance.

Where and when to look

Finding Red-bellied Woodpecker

Watch trunks and branches, including backyard trees. Check the back pattern instead of judging only by the red head feathers. [1] [2]

Use the range map above for seasonal context and the sightings link below to explore local records.

Listen for it

Learn the songs and calls

Compare Cornell’s recordings with what you hear outdoors. Listen for the rhythm and quality of each sound, then try to locate the bird visually.

Listen to songs and calls at Cornell ↗

Compare the details

Common look-alikes

Use several clues together, including body proportions and feather pattern. Cornell’s comparison photographs below show the details to check against similar species.

See similar species and comparison photographs ↗

Look closer

Field Photographs

Photographs © Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to explore all 6 photographs.

Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker · Field photograph 6

Life history

How this bird lives

Habitat and nesting

Pairs excavate cavities in dead trees or limbs. A nesting tree may be reused even when a fresh hole is made. [2]

Food and foraging

Insects, nuts, seeds, and fruit. [2]

Watch where the bird searches for food and how it moves. Feeding behavior can be a useful clue alongside plumage.

Did you know?

A closer look at Red-bellied Woodpecker

Broad menu

Plant foods supplement insects and other small animals. [2] [1]

New hole, familiar tree

Some pairs return to the same tree in later years. [2] [1]

Simple bedding

Eggs rest on chips left from excavation. [2] [1]

Range & Sightings

See where people are finding this bird

Explore community observations, photographs, and locations on iNaturalist. Zoom to your area and use date filters to investigate seasonal sightings.

View iNaturalist Sightings ↗

Reported sightings are not a complete range map. An area without records does not necessarily mean the species is absent.

Keep Learning

Bring the clues together

Choose a photograph above and describe three things you notice before looking at the identification cards. On your next walk, compare those clues with the bird’s habitat and behavior.

Sources & Further Reading

Numbered references support the identification details and natural-history information above. Cornell links open All About Birds, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

[1] Cornell · Identification ↗[2] Cornell · Life history ↗[3] Cornell · Natural history ↗[4] Cornell · Songs and calls ↗[5] Cornell · Similar species ↗[6] Cornell · Range map ↗iNaturalist · Community observations ↗

Previous and next birds follow common-name alphabetical order.