A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum Which Woodpecker???

Just saw a beautiful woodpecker in one of my dogwoods. From here, all I could really see is that he is *maybe* a little larger than a cardinal, bright red smooth head, white from the throat to the belly, dark brown/black on the back.

Annette

I went online and didn't see a woodpecker with a red head and brown on the back. They are mostly black and white.

could it be a baby red headed woodpecker?

Juvenile: Mottled brown head and neck; white breast, belly, and rump variably marked with brown streaking; dark brown back and upperwings; white secondaries are broken by brown lateral bars; tail is dark brown.

I only typed in "dark brown" because I couldn't be sure of the color from where I was sitting. It very well could have been just black, but he was in a bit of a shadow, so I was erring on the side of "I'm not sure". LOL His head was bright red, no brown/black on it at all that I could see. I know is was NOT a pileated woodpecker...I have one of those that frequents my magnolia when the seeds show up.

I *think* it may have been the red-headed woodpecker after looking up photos, but I don't remember seeing white on the wings. Of course, like I said, it WAS kinda shady where I saw it, so it's entirely possible that I just didn't see the white, except for the belly...

The only photo I can find of this bird is drawn...anyone have a REAL pic of one?

Annette

Google should have lots of pics of Red-Headed Woodpeckers. They are kinda rare though. I've seen exactly TWO in twenty years of birding.

we have lots of red headed woodpeckers here. we have the large and small. they seem to be a bit camera shy for me. actually, not really camera shy so much as they seem to have an agenda and don't really hang out.

All Woodpeckers have red on the head (at least the males do). There is one species that is called Red-Headed Woodpecker. Their number has been on decline the last few years.


RED-HEADED WOODPECKER

hhhmmm.....well, maybe the ones I have around here aren't 'red headed' woodpeckers. it seems the ones I see have red on the back part of their head, not all over like that one?
at any rate, I like 'em! they make some beautiful chatter.

Another one in Saints colours! You have all the good birds over there!

That's him! I hope he sticks around...

Thanks!

Annette