Bird Finder for December 21: Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Two of these red-headed strangers have been spending time in Westport
By Nick Bonomo
What it looks like: An adult Red-headed Woodpecker is unmistakable. It sports an entirely red hood, a solid black back with large white wing patches, and a while breast and belly. Immature birds are slightly less distinct, as the hood is brown instead of red and there are a few horizontal black lines through the white wing patch.

They behave like typical woodpeckers so can be seen clinging to tree trunks, but they also spend time on the ground foraging for nuts or insects, and could be seen fly-catching during warm weather. At this time of year they may be seen stashing acorns in dead trees to prepare for the cold of winter.

Where and when to find it: Connecticut lies just north of this southern species’ normal breeding range, so this is a very scarce bird in the state. Typically each September and October a few individuals stray north and are seen in Connecticut, usually along the coast. Lighthouse Point in New Haven is known for annual autumn sightings of this species.

However this year several Red-headed Woodpeckers appear to be wintering in the state. Most reliably seen have been two individuals, an adult and an immature, at Partrick Wetlands off Partrick Road in Westport.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the Red-headed Woodpecker as “Near Threatened” because it has undergone a steady population decline due to loss of habitat over the past 40 years.