Red-Cockaded Woodpecker vs Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus borealis

How to recognise a red-cockaded woodpecker?

General appearance

The red-cockaded woodpecker stands out for its black and white barred back, large white patches on the wings, and black cap. The bird has a unique pecking pattern, creating large, rectangular cavities in pine trees. Though it’s named for the tiny 'cockade' or red stripe found on males, this feature is often difficult to discern.

Male vs female

Both sexes of the red-cockaded woodpecker have similar coloration making them difficult to differentiate. However, mature males exhibit a small red line or 'cockade' on the sides of their black cap. This red streak is often not visible unless the bird is excited or agitated.

Juvenile

Juvenile red-cockaded woodpeckers look similar to adults but have a brownish cap instead of black. Their plumage is duller overall compared to adults' bright markings. Juveniles don't have the distinctive red cockade that males develop as they mature. Their appearance doesn't have seasonal variations.

Size

7.9 - 9.1 in/1.4 - 2.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-cockaded woodpecker primarily inhabits pine forests in Southeast USA, preferring older trees for nesting.

Additional range

Unexpected environments include younger forests with mix of hardwoods. Their range extends from Oklahoma to Florida, and up to Virginia.

Range Map

What do red-cockaded woodpeckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-cockaded woodpecker primarily feeds on insects and other arthropods. They forage for ants, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and wood-boring insects found in or on the bark, branches, and trunks of pine trees. Additionally, they occasionally consume fruits, nuts, and seeds, particularly pine seeds, which provide an essential energy source.

Bird feeders

Red-cockaded woodpeckers are rarely seen at bird feeders. They might occasionally be attracted to feeders offering suet, especially during colder months when insect availability is reduced. Other feeder foods like sunflower seeds, peanuts, or mealworms may attract these woodpeckers, though such occurrences are uncommon.

What does a red-cockaded woodpecker sound like?

The red-cockaded woodpecker's vocalizations include a series of rapid, harsh chattering or "churr" sounds and a softer, more distinctive "queer" call used for communication with the flock. Occasionally, it will emit a high-pitched "peep" when foraging or alarmed. It does not have a traditional song, but courtship displays can involve a rhythmic drumming.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Red-Headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

How to recognise a red-headed woodpecker?

General appearance

The red-headed woodpecker stands at about 10 inches (25 cm) tall, roughly the size of a Robin. Its coloring is striking, with a solid pattern of black, white, and red. Its wing shape is broad and rounded, and it has a multi-pointed, wedge-shaped tail. Large white patches on the wings are key identifiers.

Male vs female

There is no significant difference in the coloration and physical traits between male and female red-headed woodpeckers. Both genders boast the same pattern of black, red, and white, as well as the noteworthy white wing patches.

Juvenile

Distinguishing juvenile red-headed woodpeckers from adults is fairly manageable. Young birds sport a brown head, in contrast to the vivid red of the adults. Their white wing patches are streaked with dark bars. As they approach their first winter, the brown on their head gradually gives way to red.

Size

7.6 - 9.3 in/2.0 - 3.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-headed woodpecker favors open country, forest edges, groves of tall trees, orchards, and shade trees in towns. Large scattered trees in farm country are also preferred.

Additional range

In winter, its habitat can be influenced by food sources available in fall like acorns or beechnuts. It may inhabit open pine woods and avoids unbroken forests.

Range Map

What do red-headed woodpeckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-headed woodpecker is highly omnivorous and perhaps the most omnivorous among woodpeckers. Its diet includes a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates such as spiders and earthworms. It also consumes nuts, seeds, berries, and both wild and cultivated fruits. Occasionally, it may eat small rodents and is known to eat eggs and nestlings of other birds. Additionally, the red-headed woodpecker sometimes feeds on bark.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, red-headed woodpeckers are likely to consume nuts and seeds, which align with their natural diet. They might also be attracted to suet feeders, as suet provides a high-energy food source similar to those they find in nature.

What does a red-headed woodpecker sound like?

The red-headed woodpecker communicates through a variety of distinct sounds including loud churr-churr and yarrow-yarrow-yarrow. The call patterns primarily fall flat, making the call type unique - the bird produces sounds that can be categorized as a chirp, chip, drum, rattle, or scream. The variation in calls and songs illustrates the complex vocalization system of the red-headed woodpecker.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

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Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus borealis

General appearance

The red-cockaded woodpecker stands out for its black and white barred back, large white patches on the wings, and black cap. The bird has a unique pecking pattern, creating large, rectangular cavities in pine trees. Though it’s named for the tiny 'cockade' or red stripe found on males, this feature is often difficult to discern.

Male vs female

Both sexes of the red-cockaded woodpecker have similar coloration making them difficult to differentiate. However, mature males exhibit a small red line or 'cockade' on the sides of their black cap. This red streak is often not visible unless the bird is excited or agitated.

Juvenile

Juvenile red-cockaded woodpeckers look similar to adults but have a brownish cap instead of black. Their plumage is duller overall compared to adults' bright markings. Juveniles don't have the distinctive red cockade that males develop as they mature. Their appearance doesn't have seasonal variations.

Size

7.9 - 9.1 in/1.4 - 2.0 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

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Red-Headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

General appearance

The red-headed woodpecker stands at about 10 inches (25 cm) tall, roughly the size of a Robin. Its coloring is striking, with a solid pattern of black, white, and red. Its wing shape is broad and rounded, and it has a multi-pointed, wedge-shaped tail. Large white patches on the wings are key identifiers.

Male vs female

There is no significant difference in the coloration and physical traits between male and female red-headed woodpeckers. Both genders boast the same pattern of black, red, and white, as well as the noteworthy white wing patches.

Juvenile

Distinguishing juvenile red-headed woodpeckers from adults is fairly manageable. Young birds sport a brown head, in contrast to the vivid red of the adults. Their white wing patches are streaked with dark bars. As they approach their first winter, the brown on their head gradually gives way to red.

Size

7.6 - 9.3 in/2.0 - 3.2 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Headed Woodpecker

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How to tell the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker from the Red-Headed Woodpecker

Visual differences

The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (approx. 8 inches, 1.4-2 oz) features a black and white barred back, a black cap, and large white wing patches. Rarely visible, males have a small red line on the sides of their black cap. The Red-Headed Woodpecker (10 inches, 2-3.2 oz) displays a striking solid red head, black back, large white wing patches, and a wedge-shaped tail. Both sexes are visually similar in each species, though juvenile red-heads have brown heads. The notable difference lies in the Red-Headed's vivid red head and slightly larger size.

Key differences and behavior

The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and the Red-Headed Woodpecker (RHW) exhibit distinct behavioral differences. RCWs are non-migratory and primarily inhabit older pine forests in the Southeast USA, whereas RHWs prefer open areas and can shift habitats based on food availability, especially during winter. RCWs are cooperative breeders, nesting in living pines in groups, while RHWs are solitary nesters in dead tree cavities. Diet-wise, RCWs focus on insects, occasionally consuming fruits, whereas RHWs are highly omnivorous, even storing food and eating small animals and eggs. Both species participate in territorial displays, but RCWs rely more on subtle vocalizations, contrasting with the RHWs' aggressive nest defense. RCWs are generally smaller, weighing 1.4-2 oz, while RHWs weigh 2-3.2 oz.

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Red-Cockaded Woodpecker or Red-Headed Woodpecker?

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

How to recognise a red-cockaded woodpecker?

Habitat

What do red-cockaded woodpeckers like to eat?

What does a red-cockaded woodpecker sound like?

Call

Call

There's more to learn about Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Red-Headed Woodpecker

How to recognise a red-headed woodpecker?

Habitat

What do red-headed woodpeckers like to eat?

What does a red-headed woodpecker sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

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How to tell the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker from the Red-Headed Woodpecker

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

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