| Red-bellied
Woodpecker Identification Tips |
| (Credit: U. S. Geological Survey) |
| General
Information - 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 male - Red cap extending from bill to nape Adult female - Red nape patch, gray crown, and red spot above bill 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. |
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