Red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

Identification Tips:

• Medium-sized woodpecker
• Pale gray face, throat, breast, and belly
• Back strongly barred with black and white
• Black wings barred and spotted with white
• White bases to the primaries appear as white crescent in the hand in flight
• White rump and uppertail coverts with sparse dark markings

• Dark tail with black and white barring on the central retricies

Adult female:

• Red nape patch, gray crown, and red spot above bill

Adult male:

• Red cap extending from bill to nape, which does not include eye and gray face

Similar species:

Gila Woodpecker is darker brown about the head and belly, lacks the red nape and spot above bill. Golden-fronted Woodpecker overlaps in Texas where hybrids are known so identifications should be made with caution and attention to all details of plumage. Note the Red-bellied's red nape and barred central retricies in all plumages.