With its striking crimson head, bold black and white wings, and energetic personality, the red-headed woodpecker is anything but ordinary. This charismatic resident of open woodlands and orchards across North America is a skilled excavator, an omnivorous opportunist, and a symbol of a healthy ecosystem. From its powerful beak to its surprising diet, the "checkered marvel" holds a story waiting to be explored.Red-headed woodpeckers are aptly named. Their strong bodies and sharp, chisel-like beaks are perfectly adapted for excavating cavities in trees. They use their powerful drumming to communicate and defend territories, but also to loosen insect prey hidden beneath the bark. Witnessing a red-headed woodpecker hammering away at a tree trunk, wood chips flying in all directions, reveals their remarkable skills in creating homes and extracting hidden treats.In some years you can find this striking bird at Quiet Waters, but they'reregulars at CBEC and Blackwatee NWR.
