eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Hi all,

It‘s Sunday, and given the fact that this week was the first time I ever saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker, (or at least could confirm its true identity) I figured that this creature should be bird of the week.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker, (Melanerpes carolinus of the Picidae family) is a beautiful thing.



Interesting/fun facts about the Red-bellied Woodpecker:

• These Starling-sized birds pretty much occupy all of the eastern half of the U.S.
• They are monogamous (vs. polygamous or promiscuous) breeders.
• Both males and females feed their young.
• You can listen to (and learn more about) the Red-bellied Woodpecker at the U.S. Geological Survey site.
• They tend to eat nuts, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and especially suet. (I should think however that mealworms might be well received by them as well.)

Another week, and yet another bird.

See you by the feeders.

CapeCodAlan

P.S. As always, comments are most welcome, especially from anyone who has any experience using mealworms as feed for woodpeckers!

P.P.S. Looks like the New England Patriots just beat the New York Jets, 37 - 16. Gloat, gloat, gloat.

P.P.P.S. Remember to keep a sharp eye on this blog for the next contest!

References used for this post are listed below:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Audubon Society
• U.S. Geological Survey
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks