Red cockaded woodpecker

red cockaded woodpecker

Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis) In the southeastern corner of the U.S. lives a woodpecker that you might mistake for other commonly spotted black and white woodpeckers like the do…

This photo holds a special place in my heart because it was taken on a wedding anniversary trip to Piedmont NWR specifically to photograph the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Isn’t that the way it goes – 1 year is paper, 10 years is tin and 25 years is a photo of an endangered bird? Anyway, for those who are unfamiliar with the South in the summertime it can get quite hot. I remember that the pine sap dripping from the holes that the woodpecker had made in the live pine tree was no match…

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a habitat specialist of the Southeast’s once-vast longleaf pine stands. Its habitat—old pines with very little understory—was shaped by the region’s frequent lightning fires. They also occur in stands of loblolly, slash, and other pine species. The birds dig cavities in living pines softened by heartwood rot. They live in family groups that work together to dig cavities and raise young. The species declined drastically as its original habitat was cut down, and…

Page with pictures of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

tags: Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day

1. Red-cockaded Woodpecker Like many woodpecker species, this one is black and white and of medium size; both sexes have large white cheek patches, and that is a defining field mark. Though the male wears a little red cockade over its auriculars (ears), the cockade is seldom seen. So, while this southeastern woodpecker may be not much to look at, it is delightful to know. In order to do so, you must pay a visit to its home in the forest, one with an open under-story, where the bird lives in…

Rare and declining woodpecker found exclusively in open pine woodlands. Boldly patterned black and white; note especially prominent white cheek and barred back. Male's namesake red spot at back of crown is tiny and difficult to see. Typically seen in pairs or family groups. Listen for high, squeaky

NC is home to at least 8 species of woodpeckers. These birds are brilliantly colored and many are easy to attract into your back yard.