Red-bellied Woodpecker
Learn to identify the Red-bellied Woodpecker by ear. Master the "a rolling, churring kwirr — and a chuckling chig-chig-chig" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Red-bellied Woodpecker sounds like
A medium-sized woodpecker common in the Eastern United States. It has a striking black-and-white barred pattern on its back (often described as "zebra" striping). The head and nape are red in adults – in males the red extends from the bill over the crown to the nape, while in females the red is mostly on the nape and a bit on the crown. The underparts are a pale tan-gray with a subtle reddish wash on the lower belly (often hard to see, giving the bird its misleading name). It has a stout, grayish bill. This species is often heard before seen, with rolling calls and drumming. Frequently visits bird feeders and adapts well to suburban areas with trees.
“a rolling, churring kwirr — and a chuckling chig-chig-chig”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Red-bellied Woodpecker's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.
Start Learning Free
Where you'll hear it
Deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, and wooded suburbs. They favor habitats with plenty of trees, from deep forests to parks and neighborhoods. Common in oak-hickory woods, swamp forests, and also found in orchards. They nest in cavities they excavate in dead limbs or trees. As a generalist, they have expanded northward and westward as more woodlots and bird feeders became available, and now are a familiar sight in many eastern backyards.
They breed in late spring and summer. By early spring (April), pairs begin excavating nesting cavities in dead trees or limbs. They are territorial and will drum loudly on resonant surfaces (including metal gutters or siding) in spring to declare territory. Clutches are typically laid by May. Both parents feed the young. Throughout summer they remain within their territory. In fall, they often collect and store acorns and other mast for winter. During winter, they maintain a pair bond and may roost in cavities at night. They are active year-round, but you'll hear less drumming outside of the breeding season (more calls and chatter as they forage).
Similar species
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpeckers have an entirely red head and a very different wing pattern (large solid white patches on black wings, and a solid black back with white rump). They lack the barred back. Red-headed are also less common in many areas. If you see only a red patch on the nape and barred back, it's a Red-bellied, not a Red-headed.
Northern Flicker
Flickers are brown with black spots and a black "collar" on the chest, and they have a white rump visible in flight. They also have a longer, more downcurved bill and often feed on the ground. While flickers have some red on the head (males have a red nape patch in the East), they do not have the zebra barring or extensive red cap of a Red-bellied Woodpecker.