Red-headed Woodpecker dressed in full color
PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Birds with at least some red feathers on their heads include many species, large and small. Red-Headed Woodpeckers are certain to top the list since their common name implies what is actually observed. Male and female have identical plumage as it appears to us humans. As for the bird itself, we will let it up to Mother Nature to determine how the guys and gals of this bird species know the difference. The gorgeous plumage of a brilliant crimson red head, snow-white body and half white, half black wings is diagnostic coloration for this species.
The Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is one of the first birds any young person may learn to identify as their curious minds begin to notice birds. The sharply defined colors of its feathers make this an easy task.
When flying, the contrast of black and white wings flapping in the air will catch one’s eye, and the all red head will also be noticed. So now that the bird has been identified, what can we learn about this mighty forest flyer?
For starters, they like to call home any deciduous forest, woodlands with oak or beech trees. Even groves with dead or dying trees are places where nests can be chiseled out of the standing stumps.
River bottom forests will do, even recently burned areas, some clearings, beaver swamps, orchards, or urban backyards. The habitat the Red-headed woodpecker uses is likely where the foods they seek can be found.
Foods this species eats can be any insect flying in the air. From its perch in nearby trees, the Red-head will spot it and pursue it for a mid-air capture. Insect types include beetles, cicadas, midges, honeybees and grasshoppers.
Insects not killed immediately may be stuffed into a crack in a tree, or under tree bark, wedged in so tight that the insect cannot escape. Storing food is a unique behavior for this woodpecker. The bird can return later to pull it out for a meal. Fruits and seeds add to the menu along with berries, nuts, or corn. A mouse found vulnerable is not off the food list, as might be an occasional smaller bird.
Nests are hollows chiseled into dead trees which the bird determines through tapping to see how vulnerable and acceptable that tree tissue is to excavation. The male does most of the cavity excavation.
His final new home for his mate, her eggs and the new brood to be will be about three to six inches wide, eight to 16 inches deep and have an entrance hole about two inches in diameter. American Starlings are persistent nest predators. However, the Red-headed WP puts up a great fight against home raiders.
Once a good nest site is in use, a clutch of three to 10 eggs will be laid. Each egg is about one inch long and three-fourths of an inch wide.
Incubation takes twelve to fourteen days. In about 24 to 31 days, the young red-heads will fly out to explore and learn how to survive with the help of the parent birds.
Young red-heads have a dark brown to black head during its first year of life. Gradually via subsequent molts the dark head transforms to the all red more familiar color.
A long time ago, as in about 180 years ago in early American settlements and farm fields, the Red-headed WP was so prevalent they were considered pests. At that time there were a lot more mature nut crop trees and dead trees across the landscape.
Some farmers paid a bounty for dead Red-heads, and Mr. Audubon reported that 100 were shot in one day in the year 1840. As beech nut tree mast crops matured, Red-heads followed beech nut tree crops as those nut crops matured in northern forests.
The chestnut blight in American chestnut trees removed a valuable food source for the species. However, the same dead trees offered new nesting sites for a while.
Scientists have found fossil evidence in the geological record of Red-headed WPs as far back as two million years ago at sites in Illinois, Florida and Virginia. Today, ornithology identification books pegs the North American woodpecker group of bird species at twenty two.
The smallest is the Downy woodpecker. The largest is the Pileated. We have both the Downy and Pileated locally.
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There are lots of other birds with either some red or varying degrees of red feathers on their top, nape, or cheeks of their heads. Woodpeckers we are likely to observe in Iowa fitting this criteria include Red-bellied, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy, Downy, and Pileated. As for non-woodpecker types, this list gets long. For starters are waterfowl like the Wood Duck, Canvasback, and Redhead. Next to see red are those iridescent throat feathers of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Reddish heads can be found on female Common mergansers, male Eastern wild turkey, male Ring-necked pheasant, Sandhill cranes, Turkey vultures, Golden-crowned Kinglet males, Scarlet tanager, Northern Cardinal, House finch and Purple finch.
There are other species with red feathers on their bodies, but not on their heads. It is always interesting to look for the critical details.
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Wild turkeys taken by Iowa hunters have now topped 13,500 statewide. Tomorrow is the closing day for spring gobbler season.
Marshall County hunters have made at least 88 birds ready for a later meal for the family. Female wild turkeys are setting secure on hopefully well camouflaged nests free from the prying eyes and noses of land predators.
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Hunter safety classroom course registrations for Thursday, May 18 and Saturday, May 20 are coming in. Sign ups are most welcome for those students ages 12 or above.
The Izaak Walton League grounds located two miles south of Iowa Avenue in Marshalltown will be the host site for this important class. Once a student has attended the course, passed the test, and received their certification, it is good for a lifetime and valid in all 50 states and provinces of Canada.
Go to the Official Iowa Fishing and Hunting Licenses online web site. Look for the link called Go Outdoors Iowa. The Marshall County classroom hunter safety registration is listed. Sign up. Then attend both sessions, Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., and then on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Chief instructor for the class is Tim Powers, and his cell number is 641-485-9089.
During the fiscal year of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, Hunter education programs in Iowa had a total of 215 classes. Students certified came to 9,367.
New instructor workshops, four of them, helped get 73 new instructors up to speed on what they needed to assist with hunter ed classes. Existing instructors attended 18 workshops to get informed on the latest info. The total instructors who are certified is 1,228.
Special additional classes are offered on the subjects of Fur Harvesting and another offering is called Bowhunter education. This class may be required in some states and in Canada.
Do the research prior to a long awaited hunt out-of-state or out of the country.
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Garry Brandenburg is a graduate of Iowa State University with BS degree in Fish & Wildlife
Biology. He is the retired director of the
Marshall County Conservation Board. Contact him at PO Box 96, Albion, IA 50005.
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- PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Birds with at least some red feathers on their heads include many species, large and small. Red-Headed Woodpeckers are certain to top the list since their common name implies what is actually observed. Male and female have identical plumage as it appears to us humans. As for the bird itself, we will let it up to Mother Nature to determine how the guys and gals of this bird species know the difference. The gorgeous plumage of a brilliant crimson red head, snow-white body and half white, half black wings is diagnostic coloration for this species.
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