I thought we all could do with a shot of colour right about now, so I chose to write my column about the striking and distinguished Red-bellied Woodpecker that visits from time to time, including this week.
I considered writing about my encounter with a Cooper’s Hawk. It hung out on my deck and we exchanged eye contact. It was personally impactful, yet the intersection of bird feeders and hawks does not often result in a happy-ending story.
In any case, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is an impressive visitor, and not as commonly seen as Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers in this area. This mid-sized woodpecker ranges from Florida up through the Eastern United States and into the lower Great Lakes area. They have been seen farther north and west as time goes by. They also seem to be increasing in number. That’s a happy thing.
They eat seeds and suet at feeders. According to allaboutbirds.com, they naturally eat insects, spiders, acorns, nuts, pinecones, seeds from perennial and annuals plants, and fruit including oranges, and mangoes. I was surprised to see the site adds occasional feasts of lizards, nestling birds, and minnows.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are here year round and they do not change their plumage as some birds do according to season. The difference between the male and female is that the top of female’s head is not red, only the nape of the neck.
Why they are called red-bellied seems a little odd, as any coloration on their bellies is hard to detect. One might think a more appropriate name might apply. Red-headed woodpecker seems obvious, but it is already taken by another Ontario woodpecker. Its head is totally red and its body blocked in black and white. It is on the species-at-risk list whereas the Red-bellied is doing well.
Similar to others of their species, Red-bellied Woodpeckers fly in an undulating pattern, use their tails for balance and hop downward on a tree. They are more likely to forage for their wide range of food choices than dig into wood to find insects. They sometimes hide nuts and seeds in crevices to eat later.
I have seen them, and other types of birds, wedge a sunflower seed in a crevice and peck away to open it. Because they like oranges so much in their southern habitat, they are sometimes referred to as the “orange borer” or “orange sapsucker” in those areas.
When I put oranges out for the returning Orioles in the spring, they also attracted Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Although they are here year-round and eat native fruit, I guess they have an instinctual love of oranges. I was happy to see them enjoy the treat.
I learned from allaboutbirds.org that their tongue can extend two inches beyond the end of their beaks. I’m glad this enables them to eat a variety of things, and that they will continue to bring cheer through the winter showing off their bright colour and handsome striped feathers.
I share experiences of bird visitors to this property with readers every couple of weeks. Until next time, keep your eye to the sky, and look for birds that may come by.
Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, a storyteller, and a playwright. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com
