Red-bellied woodpecker

Adults are mainly light gray on the face and underparts; they have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings and tail. Adult males have red on the head going from the bill to the nape; females have a red patch on the nape and another above the bill. The reddish tinge on the belly that gives the bird its name is difficult to see. They are 9 to 10.5 inches long, and have a wingspan of 15-18 inches. They pick at tree bark surface more often than drilling into it. They eat insects, fruits, nuts, seeds and suet. They nest in the decayed cavities of dead trees, old stumps, or in live trees that have softer wood such as elms, maples, or willows; both sexes assist in digging nesting cavities. Areas around nest sites are marked with drilling holes to warn others away. They defend their nests and young aggressively, and may directly attack predators that come near the nest.