Red-bellied Woodpecker Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRed-bellied Woodpecker
Male
Medium-sized black-and-white barred woodpecker with a pale belly. Males have a red crown and nape.
© Carl Giometti 🍹 / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, March 04, 2017Female
Medium-sized black-and-white barred woodpecker with a pale belly. Females have a red nape, lacking the red crown.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 12, 2017Adult male
Clings to tree bark and uses stiff tail feathers for support. Probes into bark for insects. Note white flashes in wings as this bird takes flight.
© David McCartt / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 11, 2016Not all videos have sound
Male
Most often the red belly is obscured by surrounding feathers and is difficult to see.
© mark kraus / Macaulay LibraryOhio, March 04, 2017Male
Found in eastern woodlands and suburban areas. Nests in holes in trees.
© Oscar Johnson / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, March 18, 2017Adult male
Often comes to backyard feeders, including suet feeders.
© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 29, 2014Not all videos have sound
Immature
Immature is grayer overall than adults and lacks red on the head.
© Peggy Rudman / Macaulay LibraryOhio, June 24, 2019Male
Hitches up trees in search of insects. Found in woodlands and suburban areas.
© Anupam Khanna / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 07, 2017Similar SpeciesGolden-fronted Woodpecker
Male (Northern)
The Golden-fronted Woodpecker has yellow on the forehead and back of the neck unlike Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
© Becca Engdahl / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 17, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-headed Woodpecker
Adult
The head on Red-headed Woodpeckers is entirely red, whereas Red-bellied Woodpeckers only have a red crown and nape. Red-headed Woodpeckers also have a solid (not striped) back.
© Jeff Stacey / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, July 05, 2015Similar SpeciesLadder-backed Woodpecker
Male
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are smaller than Red-bellied Woodpeckers. They have black-and-white stripes on their face that Red-bellied Woodpeckers don't have.
© Edward Plumer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, February 20, 2016Similar SpeciesNorthern Flicker
Male (Yellow-shafted)
Northern Flickers have brown-and-black barred backs, not black-and-white like Red-bellied Woodpeckers. They also have spots on their bellies, whereas Red-belied have unmarked bellies.
© Warren Lynn / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, January 15, 2014Similar SpeciesDowny Woodpecker
Male (Eastern)
Downy Woodpeckers are smaller than Red-bellied Woodpeckers. They have a long white stripe down the middle of the back not seen on the barred backs of Red-bellied Woodpeckers.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, February 02, 2017Similar SpeciesHairy Woodpecker
Male (Eastern)
Hairy Woodpeckers have a long white stripe down the middle of the back and white stripes on their face unlike the barred back and plain-faced Red-bellied Woodpecker.
© Jean-Sébastien Guénette / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 26, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)
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