The Red Bellied Woodpecker is a common feeder visitor throughout the year and is one of the few feeder birds that won’t get bullied by Blue Jays.
Poorly named, these woodpeckers can have a slight red tinge on their chests and bellies but are more easily recognized by their red caps and white faces, and the black and white barring that covers their backs and wings. A medium sized woodpecker, they are omnivores that enjoy various berries, nuts, and insects. At feeders, Red Bellied Woodpeckers enjoy peanuts, sunflowers, and suet. These birds are cavity nesters, which means they are often seen in woods or neighborhoods with standing-dead trees or trees with abandoned squirrel holes available for nest sites. They have 1-2 broods per year. These woodpeckers are also fairly vocal, making a loud a “querrr” noise while flying and browsing among trees.
