Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
The Golden-fronted and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are closely
related, with brown bodies, barred backs and wings, deeply undulating flight,
and similar voices. They are found in wooded areas.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is medium-size; fairly long bill,
short wings, and heavy body.
Voice: Contact call a loud, harsh, but rich quirrr slightly rising; in flight a
single, low chug. Also a harsh chig-chig, a series of chig notes delivered slowly, or a rapid,
chuckling series chig chighchchchchchchch
descending. Drum medium speed and length with steady tempo.
South Florida Red-bellied Woodpeckers averages smaller with
less white in tail, smaller white wing-patch; males have brown foreheads. Voice
may be higher-pitched and laughing call slower than Northern. Plumage
differences are clinal and variable. Red-bellied and Golden-fronted hybridize
where ranges overlap in Texas and Oklahoma.
Works Cited
Sibley, D. A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New
York City: Chanticleer Press, Inc. (2000): 309.
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