Red-Headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
The Red-Headed Woodpecker is a striking Florida bird of open woods and standing dead trees, with a fully red head and bold black-and-white wings.
Red-Headed Woodpeckers favor open pine woods, oak groves, burns, farm edges, and wetlands with standing dead trees. Florida populations are localized.
Retaining safe snags and open understory habitat supports nesting and foraging. Live trees near dead nest trees provide cover and food.
Habitat:
Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills, Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Agricultural Areas
Area / Range:
Florida Panhandle, North Florida, Central Florida
Diet:
They eat flying and bark-dwelling insects, acorns, nuts, seeds, fruit, and occasionally small vertebrates or eggs.
Behavior:
Unlike many woodpeckers, they often catch insects in flight. They store acorns and other food in tree crevices and defend storage sites.
Day
Active Times:
Best time to see:
In daylight around open pine woods, burned areas, farm edges, and dead trees with exposed perches.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Native species with long-term population declines tied to loss of open woodland, snags, and mature nut-producing trees.
Safety Level:
Harmless
Safety Information:
Watch from a distance and keep pets away from nest trees. Repair insect-damaged siding and use humane deterrents rather than trapping.
Benefits to Property:
They consume insects and use dead wood that already provides valuable habitat for many native species.
Property Concerns:
Occasional drumming or cavity excavation may occur on damaged wood, poles, or siding, though most activity is on trees.
Fun Fact:
This woodpecker stores food and sometimes covers cached items with bark or wood fragments.
Wildlife Laws:
Red-Headed Woodpeckers, nests, eggs, and young are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Florida law. Active nests must not be removed.
Identification:
Adults have an entirely crimson head and neck, white belly, black back and tail, and large white wing patches. Juveniles have brownish-gray heads.
Credits:
Facts: Audubon Red-Headed Woodpecker field guide. Images: perched adult and adult in flight.