Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a cavity-nesting bird of forests, orchards, wetlands, parks, or open aerial-feeding routes depending on the species. Field identification usually centers on bill shape, head markings, wing pattern, tail support, flight style, and seasonal plumage details. Food records often involve insects, sap, fruit, flying insects, or aquatic prey, and injuries commonly relate to window strikes, nest disturbance, or collisions.

In rehabilitation records, this label keeps red-bellied woodpecker separate from broader catch-all categories and from domestic look-alikes. Track source, locality, life stage, permits when relevant, health findings, and the observed color form rather than forcing a generic entry; that keeps releases, transfers, husbandry notes, and future image prompts auditable for Red-Bellied Woodpecker.