I live in the state of Michigan – the winters are typically cold and snowy, pretty dreary with little sunshine to speak of. However, the summers are wonderful once summer decides to show up. The weather is warm, with sunshine for days. There are a few rainy days sprinkled in, but mostly, it’s very pleasant. One of the things I look forward to the most in summer is sitting on my deck, eagerly awaiting the return of the red-bellied woodpeckers. Although they aren’t migratory birds in Michigan, they aren’t seen much in the winter.
Red-bellied woodpeckers are really fun birds to watch – and listen to. I have been observing their behavior for just over a year now and have noticed some interesting traits. One of the most recognizable is the call. Although both sexes call, I have only observed the male making his presence known in my yard. Their calls are loud, sometimes shrill, and definitely memorable once you’ve heard it once.
Another thing I’ve noticed is their aggressive behavior when it’s time to find a mate. Woodpeckers tend to be very territorial and will not easily let another woodpecker invade its “home”. However, when he finds a female he fancies, I have seen the male vigorously chase the female into his territory.
I currently have a juvenile male living in my yard. I know he’s a male because of his coloring. When red-bellied woodpeckers are very young, it’s almost impossible to tell which sex they are. It’s not until their red head feathers start to appear that you know for sure whether it’s a male or female. This little guy is also very vocal, just like his father was (more on that story another time). Their calls are how I became so immersed in their behavior. I know when he is around and it’s easy to watch his every move.
Earlier this week is the first time I noticed that he’s found a female he’s pursuing. I saw two large birds flying super fast through my neighbors’ yards. I saw one land and realized it was a very young female. Her tongue was out, searching for bugs in a nearby tree. I’d never seen a woodpecker with its tongue out for so long. She visited my feeders this evening so I’m hopeful he’s lured her into my yard for good!
-Allison, BRB