An Incredible Tricolored Suit Makes This Bird Gorgeous - Meet The Red-Headed Woodpecker
The Red-headed Woodpecker stands out the moment you spot it, with colors so bold they almost look painted on. Its striking mix of red, black, and white makes it one of the most eye-catching birds in North America.
This bird is often mistaken for the red-bellied woodpecker, but its deep crimson head and clean tricolor look make it easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. From its medium size to its unusual plumage, it has a presence that is hard to miss.
Take a closer look at this gorgeous woodpecker and see why so many people stop to admire it.
Meet the Red-headed Woodpecker
“The red-headed woodpecker has very distinctive, large color patches with no variegation, striation, or striping,” says Emma Greig, project leader at Project FeederWatch.
Males and females have the same colorful plumage, and newborns have similar markings, but they are brown, black, and white.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird.
Both sexes, male and female, measure 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) in length. Their weight ranges from 56 to 97 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz), with an average of 76 g (2.7 oz).
The wing length is 12.7–15 cm, and their wingspan is 42.5 cm (16.7 in). The tail length is 6.6–8.5 cm (2.6–3.3 in), the bill measures 2.1–3 cm (0.83–1.18 in), and the tarsus is 1.9–2.5 cm (0.75–0.98 in).
Their longevity is a maximum of 9.9 years.
And if you love jaw-dropping bird shots, the Bird Photographer Of The Year 2025 winner earned £3,500 for a surreal image.
These birds are omnivorous; they can feed on both plant and animal matter.
They eat insects, fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and even small rodents and other birds' eggs. Their favorite foods include beechnuts, acorns, pecans, and fruits like pears, apples, mulberries, and grapes.
Around two-thirds of their diet consists of plants.
Northern birds begin to migrate in late October to warmer regions for the winter, returning in the breeding season, which starts at the end of April.
They are not considered an endangered species.
Their habitat is North America.
If you want to attract these charming birds to your property, you can do so by leaving dead trees, planting deciduous woodlands, and providing food. Although they are omnivores, they have their favorites.
Some fruits, acorns, and pecans should be enough to make them fall in love with your parcel.
That tricolor look is doing all the work here.
Want more bold bird contrast, see the masked cardinal’s black-and-white coat with a red head.
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