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Red Headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
41.948, -90.1214
Field Notes
Description:
The Red-headed Woodpecker is so boldly patterned it’s been called a “flying checkerboard,” with an entirely crimson head, a snow-white body, and half white, half inky black wings. These birds don’t act quite like most other woodpeckers: they’re adept at catching insects in the air, and they eat lots of acorns and beech nuts, often hiding away extra food in tree crevices for later. This magnificent species has declined severely in the past half-century because of habitat loss and changes to its food supply -The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat:
Woodland habitat along the Mississippi River. Thomson Causeway Recreation Area
Notes:
There were two individuals playing peek-a-boo with me. They would both constantly hop to the other side of the tree and peek around. With a little patience, I finally captured one on top of a rotting tree.
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