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Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Bird · family Picidae · order Piciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
38 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
12 years[4]

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a bird in the woodpecker family, Picidae[5]. It is not listed under the Endangered Species Act and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[1][2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Red-bellied Woodpecker a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. In the United States its rank is N5B,N5N, Secure for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Red-bellied Woodpecker lives

NatureServe lists this woodpecker as native in 38 US states and territories[3]. They include Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio, Minnesota and Colorado[3]. Observers on GBIF report it most often from Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia, but those counts follow where people look, not how many birds live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S3VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S2NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4SDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S2B,S2NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (38 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS4Apparently Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS2Imperiled
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records habitat types such as hardwood, conifer and mixed woodland, forested wetland, riparian areas and suburban areas or orchards[11]. The bird uses open woods, young regrown forest, swamps, parks and town shade trees[12]. It nests in a hole in a live or dead tree, a stump, a utility pole or a wooden building, and it also uses bird boxes[12]. It may reuse a hole from the year before, and starlings often take over finished holes[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

This woodpecker eats insects, seeds, nuts and fruit, and NatureServe lists it as an insect, seed and fruit eater[13][14]. An estimated diet breakdown is 30% invertebrates, 20% seeds and 20% fruit[15]. An adult is about 24 cm (9 in) long[16]. It weighs about 67 g[17]. A typical clutch is 4 to 5 eggs, and both parents incubate them for 11 to 13 days[18]. The oldest known wild bird was at least 12 years 3 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 24 cm (9 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 67 g (2.4 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 20.7 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 12 years 3 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 12 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[13] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[23] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[15]

  • 30% invertebrates
  • 20% seeds
  • 20% fruit
  • 10% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% reptiles and amphibians
  • 10% nectar

When to look for it

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is active in the daytime[24]. NatureServe calls it a non-migrant, though some birds may leave higher elevations and the northern edge of the range in winter[23][25]. In the southeastern US, nesting generally starts in late March and early April[18]. GBIF records for the whole US are highest in February, April and May, which shows when people report birds and not how many there are[26].

January: 1,228,928 recordsJanFebruary: 1,375,133 recordsFebMarch: 1,333,644 recordsMarApril: 1,967,387 recordsAprMay: 2,244,033 recordsMayJune: 959,916 recordsJunJuly: 662,305 recordsJulAugust: 671,372 recordsAugSeptember: 1,132,584 recordsSepOctober: 1,321,590 recordsOctNovember: 1,024,801 recordsNovDecember: 1,109,297 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,228,928
February1,375,133
March1,333,644
April1,967,387
May2,244,033
June959,916
July662,305
August671,372
September1,132,584
October1,321,590
November1,024,801
December1,109,297

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Red-bellied Woodpecker as present in 124 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 100 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Red-bellied Woodpecker endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Red-bellied Woodpecker live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 38 US states and territories, including Florida, Texas, New York and Ohio[3].
What does the Red-bellied Woodpecker eat?
It eats insects, seeds, nuts and fruit[13][14]. An estimated diet is 30% invertebrates, 20% seeds and 20% fruit[15].
How big is a Red-bellied Woodpecker?
It is about 24 cm (9 in) long[16]. It weighs about 67 g[17].
How long does a Red-bellied Woodpecker live?
The oldest known wild bird was at least 12 years 3 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[19].

Facts and sources

  1. Red-bellied Woodpecker is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Red-bellied Woodpecker: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Red-bellied Woodpecker as native in 38 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Red-bellied Woodpecker from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 12 years 3 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a bird in the family Picidae, order Piciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Red-bellied Woodpecker is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Red-bellied Woodpecker: Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Red-bellied Woodpecker (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Red-bellied Woodpecker: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Suburban/orchard, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Red-bellied Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Red-bellied Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 30% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% fruit, 10% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% reptiles and amphibians, 10% nectar. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 24 cm (9 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 67 g (2.4 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Red-bellied Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20.7 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Red-bellied Woodpecker: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Red-bellied Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Red-bellied Woodpecker in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Red-bellied Woodpecker as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.