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Red-headed woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Photo by Maria dB
Published on Project Noah
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35.9132, -79.0558

Field Notes

Description:

Adult males and females look identical in plumage. They fly to catch insects in the air or on the ground, forage on trees or gather and store nuts. They are omnivorous, eating insects, seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally even the eggs of other birds.

Habitat:

Mason Farm Biological Reserve

Notes:

The last shot shows both birds in the pair; I don't often see them in close proximity to one another.

Reference Links:

Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornitho…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
Maria dB
Thanks, Ashley and gatorfellows. Ashley, this is the first season I've spotted them and I go back regularly to the forest where they live in the hope one day to get a shot when they are close; they usually are very far away, so the zoom lens comes in handy.
AshleyT
Lovely series! I'm hoping for my first one of these guys this summer :)
Maria dB
Thanks, blaise, beallburton and Tom15!
beallburton
Good series of pictures, one of my favorite birds.
blaise
Cute puffed up little thing :-)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the Southeast U.S.
Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Animals of North Carolina
Mission
Mason Farm Biological Reserve

Tags

Photographed
PublishedFebruary 10, 2013

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