Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus

play call

• 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 rump 
• Dark tail with black and white barring on the central tail feathers
• Red cap extending from bill to nape

Habitat

Red-bellied Woodpecker primarily inhabits hard-wood forests, preferably where the trees are large and have full, dense masts. 

Status

Red-bellied woodpeckers are permanent residents in the Atlanta area.  A good place to spot them is in the forest at Fernbank Science Center.