Red-Crowned Woodpecker vs Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Red-Crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

How to recognise a red-crowned woodpecker?

General appearance

The Red-crowned Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with a striking red hood that extends from the crown to the nape. Its upperparts are black with white spotting while its underparts are dirty white with black streaking. It has a sturdy bill, perfect for chiselling into tree bark for insects. Its wings exhibit black and white wing bars.

Male vs female

The sexes are similar in size but can be differentiated by coloration. Both sexes have a red crown, but in males, it extends from forehead to nape, while females have a black patch in between the red regions. Additionally, females often have a paler chest and belly compared to males.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble the adults but have less pronounced coloration. Their red crown is duller and the underparts are unpatterned gray, with no black streaking yet. As they mature, they gradually acquire adult plumage. There are no seasonal variations in the Red-crowned Woodpecker's appearance.

Size

6.3 - 7.3 in/1.4 - 2.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-crowned woodpecker primarily lives in tropical or subtropical forests, mangroves, and plantations in Central and South America.

Additional range

In unexpected environments, this bird may also be found in urban areas or human-dominated landscapes, displaying a high level of adaptability.

Range Map

What do red-crowned woodpeckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-crowned woodpecker primarily feeds on a variety of insects, including ants, beetles, and caterpillars, often foraging on tree trunks and branches. It also consumes fruits and seeds, particularly favoring those of palms, ficus, and other fruiting trees. Occasionally, they may feed on small vertebrates or carrion.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, red-crowned woodpeckers are attracted to suet, which provides a rich source of fat and energy. They may also eat peanuts, sunflower seeds, and occasionally shelled corn. Offering a variety of these foods can help attract them to backyard feeders.

What does a red-crowned woodpecker sound like?

The red-crowned woodpecker produces a variety of vocalizations, including 'churr' and 'chirr' sounds while foraging or signaling to others. It also makes a 'quee-quee-quee' alarm call. Unlike many woodpeckers, it doesn't often drum on trees. Its song typically consists of repetitive 'pik' notes and both its call and song often have subtle variations. Strong connotation with social interaction, alarm and territoriality is observed in its vocalizations.

Song

Audio by Nick Komar

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

How to recognise a red-bellied woodpecker?

General appearance

The Red-bellied Woodpecker measures approximately 10 inches (25 cm) in size with a unique coloration. It has narrow black and white bars on its back, a buffy brown chest, and a face with a striking red stripe that extends over the top and back of the head. Its wings are broad, rounded, and short, featuring unique white patches noticeable in flight. The tail shape is multi-pointed and wedge-shaped.

Male vs female

Both males and females possess the same general physical traits including a black, red, tan, and white color scheme. However, marking differences can help distinguish between the two. A notable difference is in the level of red coloration on the head area; while both sexes feature a bright red stripe over the top and back of their heads, females tend to have less red compared to their male counterparts.

Juvenile

Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpeckers closely resemble the adults in coloration and physical traits, except for the striking red stripe, which typically develops as they mature. Therefore, younger woodpeckers may have a less pronounced red stripe or none at all, compared to adults.

Size

9.0 - 10.5 in/2.0 - 3.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-bellied woodpecker primarily favors deciduous forests, frequently found along rivers and swamps, and mixed coniferous and deciduous terrain. They are less likely to be seen in pure pine areas.

Additional range

Uncommonly, they also venture into relatively open areas such as forest edges, clearings, groves on farmland, and suburban shade trees.

Range Map

What do red-bellied woodpeckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-bellied woodpecker is omnivorous. Its diet includes a wide range of insects, which it primarily forages in trees. During certain seasons, more than 50% of its diet consists of plant material like acorns and other nuts, as well as wild and cultivated fruits and seeds. Occasionally, the woodpecker consumes tree frogs, eggs of small birds, oozing sap from trees, and sometimes even small fish.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, red-bellied woodpeckers commonly eat a variety of offerings such as suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and other nuts. Suet and nut-based feeders are particularly popular among these woodpeckers due to their high-fat content, which is beneficial for energy.

What does a red-bellied woodpecker sound like?

The red-bellied woodpecker produces various vocalizations, including a pattern that descends in pitch, described as "chuck-chuck-chuck." Their calls are typically loud, falling, and flat, resembling a repeated "churrrr." They also produce sounds classified as chirp or chip, drum, and rattle. These calls and songs are often repeated, making them a distinctive presence in their environment.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Red-Crowned Woodpecker

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Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Red-Crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

General appearance

The Red-crowned Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with a striking red hood that extends from the crown to the nape. Its upperparts are black with white spotting while its underparts are dirty white with black streaking. It has a sturdy bill, perfect for chiselling into tree bark for insects. Its wings exhibit black and white wing bars.

Male vs female

The sexes are similar in size but can be differentiated by coloration. Both sexes have a red crown, but in males, it extends from forehead to nape, while females have a black patch in between the red regions. Additionally, females often have a paler chest and belly compared to males.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble the adults but have less pronounced coloration. Their red crown is duller and the underparts are unpatterned gray, with no black streaking yet. As they mature, they gradually acquire adult plumage. There are no seasonal variations in the Red-crowned Woodpecker's appearance.

Size

6.3 - 7.3 in/1.4 - 2.3 oz

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Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

General appearance

The Red-bellied Woodpecker measures approximately 10 inches (25 cm) in size with a unique coloration. It has narrow black and white bars on its back, a buffy brown chest, and a face with a striking red stripe that extends over the top and back of the head. Its wings are broad, rounded, and short, featuring unique white patches noticeable in flight. The tail shape is multi-pointed and wedge-shaped.

Male vs female

Both males and females possess the same general physical traits including a black, red, tan, and white color scheme. However, marking differences can help distinguish between the two. A notable difference is in the level of red coloration on the head area; while both sexes feature a bright red stripe over the top and back of their heads, females tend to have less red compared to their male counterparts.

Juvenile

Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpeckers closely resemble the adults in coloration and physical traits, except for the striking red stripe, which typically develops as they mature. Therefore, younger woodpeckers may have a less pronounced red stripe or none at all, compared to adults.

Size

9.0 - 10.5 in/2.0 - 3.2 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Bellied Woodpecker

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How to tell the Red-Crowned Woodpecker from the Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Visual differences

The Red-Crowned Woodpecker (6.3-7.3 inches) is smaller than the Red-Bellied Woodpecker (9-10.5 inches). The Red-Crowned features a red hood from crown to nape in males, with black and white bars on its back. The Red-Bellied has a red stripe over its head and broad white wing patches. Both have black and white back bars, yet the Red-Bellied's underparts are buffy brown, whereas the Red-Crowned's are dirty white with black streaks. The Red-Crowned's bill is notably more robust and sturdy.

Key differences and behavior

Red-crowned and Red-bellied Woodpeckers both exhibit distinct behaviors and habitats that aid in distinguishing them. Red-crowned Woodpeckers, found chiefly in tropical/subtropical regions, exhibit monogamous pair bonding, yet maintain separate nest holes, and engage in shared parenting. In contrast, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, located in deciduous forests in North America, display territorial defense and use existing cavities for nesting. Diet-wise, both species are omnivorous, but Red-crowned Woodpeckers focus more on insects and fruits from palm and ficus, whereas Red-bellied Woodpeckers consume a broader range, including nuts and small animals. At feeders, both enjoy suet and seeds, yet Red-bellied Woodpeckers favor diverse nuts. Observing these habitats, nesting, and dietary habits can assist in field identification.