There is a dead palm tree right at the turn on North Harbor Village Dr. (right next to the Harbor 10th Green) that was home to a Red Bellied Woodpecker last spring.  The mother and father both fed the baby and occasionally the baby would stick its head out looking for the source of food.  They normally nest in cavities about 50 feet above ground.  The father has a red cap from his beak to his back, the mother’s red cap does not extend all the way down to the beak.  It is easy to tell the difference.

These woodpeckers forage by searching for insects in tree trunks.  They will also pick berries and nuts and sometimes catch flying insects in the air.  They may store nuts and seeds in the fall in bark crevices to be eaten during the winter.  They can stick their tongue out nearly 2 inches past the end of the beak making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices.

They typically lay 4-5 eggs that are white.  Both parents sit on the eggs from 12-14 days.  Parents may continue to feed the young for 6 weeks or more after they leave the nest about 22-27 days after hatching. 

Not withstanding the name, these birds no not have red bellies, but a red cap.  They generally weigh from 2-3.2 ounces and have a wingspan of 13-16.5 inches.  You may occasionally see one of these birds quickly flying and erratically through the air, abruptly changing direction, alighting for an instant and immediately taking off again.  Scientists believe this is a type of play that probably helps young birds practice the evasive action they may one day need.

​