I’ve heard this question on radio shows, podcasts and even in person from friends. Why is this bird called a Red-belled Woodpecker and not something more fitting for its bright-red head?
I finally heard a good answer on a recent public radio show about birds. When birds were first studied and classified , they were often shot in the field and mounted in collections where they could be examined close up. Of course close up that red belly is very visible and would stand out as a distinguishing feature of this bird. It just doesn’t work well from far away—especially since woodpeckers usually have their bellies against a tree trunk or branch so it’s hard to see in the field.
Here’s a fun tip about Red-bellied Woodpeckers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They can stick their tongues out 2 inches past the end of their beaks. And when at feeders they will push aside almost all other bird species except Blue Jays.
My Red-bellied Woodpeckers love peanuts. And in the spring they will occasionally peck at the oranges I leave out for the Baltimore Orioles.