It's a bit more common in river bottoms and wetlands, in the south of its range, and at elevations below about 2,000 feet. You can find this species across most of the forests, woodlands, and wooded suburbs of the eastern United States, including oak-hickory forest, pine-hardwood forest, maple and tulip-poplar stands, and pine flatwoods. The oldest known Red-bellied Woodpecker was 12 years 1 month old. Males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, possibly allowing a breeding pair to forage in slightly different places on their territory and maximize their use of available food. The tip is barbed and the bird's spit is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Scientists categorize this odd behavior as a type of play that probably helps young birds practice the evasive action they may one day need resources in one area.Ī Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly 2 inches past the end of its beak. You may occasionally see a Red-bellied Woodpecker flying quickly and erratically through the forest, abruptly changing direction, alighting for an instant and immediately taking off again, keeping up a quick chatter of calls. As many as half of all Red-bellied Woodpecker nests in some areas get invaded by starlings. But more often they're victims to the aggressive European Starling. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been known to take over the nests of other birds, including the much smaller (and endangered) Red-cockaded Woodpecker. In some areas, half of all Red-bellied Woodpecker nesting cavities are taken over by starlings.įor birds that nest in cavities, nest holes are precious turf. They also use cracks in trees and fence posts to store food for later in the year, a habit it shares with other woodpeckers in its genus. You may sometimes see Red-bellied Woodpeckers wedge large nuts into bark crevices, then whack them into manageable pieces using their beaks.
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