Red-headed Woodpecker
(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | NT - Near Threatened |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding |
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| Minnesota | not listed Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Size |
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9″ to 9½″ in length 17″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Open decidouos woodlands, river edges, roadsides with groves of trees |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Late March to late October |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Uncommon migrant and breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Piciformes (woodpeckers and relatives) | ||
Family |
Picidae (woodpeckers) | ||
| Subfamily | Picinae | ||
Genus |
Melanerpes (Melanerpes Woodpeckers) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Some authorities recognize two or three subspecies, but this separation is generally considered unwarranted. Under this classification, only Melanerpes erythrocephalus erythrocephalus has a range extending into Minnesota. |
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Synonyms |
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Melanerpes erythrocephalus caurinus Melanerpes erythrocephalus erythrocephalus |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this bird. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Luciearl |
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Kate Fitzgerald |
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| I hadn’t seen a red headed woodpecker for many years, so when I moved to Mower County I was thrilled to start seeing them again. |  |
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Joan Rock |
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Spring visitor |
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JPar |
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This bird has been hanging around our backyard feeders this afternoon. This is the best picture I could get – he/she was a little camera shy. |
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Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Red-headed Woodpecker Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
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| Red-headed Woodpecker JMC Nature Photos |
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| Red-Headed Woodpecker 2008 petersonfieldguides |
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About
Uploaded on Feb 23, 2009 The bold, bright pattern of the Red-headed Woodpecker makes it a favorite among birders. |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this bird. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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| Red-headed Woodpecker paulasullivan |
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About
Uploaded on Nov 20, 2007 Drilling a hole in a dead maple tree at Chinquapin Park, Alexandria, VA, this bird has been seen consistently at this location since Nov. 15, caching acorns for the winter. |
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| Red Headed Woodpecker up close natureofanimals |
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About
Uploaded on Dec 12, 2008 the redheded woodpecker up close on the north shores of lake erie |
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| RED-HEADED WOODPECKER AND ITS CALL.AVI TEABERRYEAGLE |
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About
Published on May 5, 2012 "Red-Headed Woodpecker" in Virginia with its call. |
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| Red-headed Woodpecker (Picidae: Melanerpes erythrocephalus) Nest Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Jul 1, 2009 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (01 July 2009). |
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| Red-Headed Woodpecker Mike McDowell |
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About
Uploaded on Sep 7, 2008 Red-headed Woodpacker at work. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this bird. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| John Callender 11/25/2022 |
Location: Crosslake, MN Usually don’t see red heads after mid September but are seeing one every day right now |
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| Gail 5/18/2022 |
Location: New Brighton, MN Showed up early last week and has been visiting mine and our neighbors’ backyard feeders for days. |
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| Gerry Timm 5/15/2020 |
Location: Orono MN feeding at my feeder for days. |
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| Steve Hettig 9/16/2019 |
Location: Renville County corner of 670th Ave. and 440th Street adult |
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| Block 9/14/2019 |
Location: Le Center, MN I saw two of them and they came to our birdfeeder today. First time I’ve seen them. |
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| Luciearl 2/12/2019 |
Location: Cass County |
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| Kate Fitzgerald 7/11/2018 |
Location: Lake Louise State Park, Mower County I hadn’t seen a red headed woodpecker for many years, so when I moved to Mower County I was thrilled to start seeing them again. |
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| Joan Rock 5/24/2017 |
Location: Redwood County Spring visitor |
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| JPar 5/18/2017 |
Location: Rochester, MN This bird has been hanging around our backyard feeders this afternoon. This is the best picture I could get – he/she was a little camera shy. |
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| Joan Rockfield 5/8/2017 |
Location: Redwood Falls MN This bird came to our tray feeder one spring day. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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