Archive for November 28th, 2008

Fort Worth Fauna: Red-Bellied Woodpecker

28th November

2008

written by admin

This morning, I was out walking the dog and heard the distinctive sounds of woodpecker hammering. Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tat. The tapping was accompanied by sharp chirps.

Woodpeckers in Fort Worth? I just didn’t know we had them; I had to try to see this bird. As it turned out, it wasn’t diffiult. I just followed the sounds, and there he was, about fifteen feet up near the sawed-off top of a dead tree. He tapped a few more times, jumping quickly around the trunk, allowing me to see his read head and checkered back, then took off.

It’s nice to know that we are not without wild animals, even in the city. I assembled some notes on this bird to begin a new category for this blog: Fort Worth Fauna, a catalogue of our local wildlife.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker Details

Description: With a red stripe over most of the head, a checkered back and a white front, the red mark on the belly which gives the bird its name is not generally visible.

Size: About 9′ long, or the size of a robin.

Range: Covers most of the eastern United States. Dallas/Fort Worth is about as far west at the bird is seen.

Diet: “Primarily insectivourous” (that was a new word for me) according to Cavity-Nesting Birds of North American Forests, a US Park service on-line publication. The Red-Bellied eats beetles, grasshoppers, nuts of various types and will also visit birdfeeders if it gets the chance.

Habitat: Southeastern forests. Prefers larger expanses of trees.

Population status: Currently increasing.

Listen: Red-Bellied Woodpecker song and pecking sound: