March 2, 2023: Red-headed Woodpecker
It was suggested that I post a picture of a Red-headed Woodpecker to compare with the recent Spotlight article on Red-bellied Woodpeckers. A very unusual visitor to our area, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the adult as having a bright-red head, white underparts, and a black back with large
white patches in the wings, making the lower back appear all white when perched.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four North American woodpeckers known to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fenceposts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they cannot escape.
Several sightings in Hershey’s Mill have been reported. If you are lucky enough to see one, please try to get a photo and report the sighting to the Nature Group so we can have a record. We submit all our monthly bird sightings into eBird for Cornell.
Happy birding!
Jado Foot