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Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Red-headed Woodpecker
Florida native
Red-headed woodpeckers range year-round throughout most of the United States east of the rocky mountains and the border region with Canada, although the northwestern portion of this range is summer only. In Florida they tend to be found less often southward, and most frequently seen where there are plenty of dead standing trees.
In addition to the solid red head of adults, the white rump and secondaries of all ages are distinctive. The belly is solid white. Juveniles have a brown head, mottled belly and the upper white areas are smaller and less solid white.
These woodpeckers will store food and also fly out to catch insects in mid-air.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus is a member of the Picidae - Woodpeckers and Wrynecks family.
Other species of the Melanerpes genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Melanerpes carolinus - RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds page for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 08, 2025
