RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER CALLS: Learn Their 3 Most Common Calls (2024)

Рет қаралды 134,275

Жыл бұрын

In this video, you will learn how to identify the 3 most common CALLS and SOUNDS of a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), including what it sounds like when they drum against a tree!
Please make sure to "like" this ID video and SUBSCRIBE to ‪@BirdWatchingHQ‬. Check out the LIVE bird and animal cameras streaming from my backyard.
HERE ARE THE THREE MOST COMMON SOUNDS THAT RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS MAKE:
00:16 SOUND #1: “Churr”
The most common call that Red-bellied Woodpeckers make is a rolling “churr.” This sound can be heard by both sexes at any time of the year.
00:39 SOUND #2: The contact call
The next sound is a contact call that is usually given between mates.
It can be heard as a single “che” note. The contact call can also be strung together as a harsh, coughing “cha-cha-cha.”
01:02 SOUND #3: Drumming
You can even identify a Red-bellied Woodpecker by the way they drum on trees! Listen for a short burst of drumming, which lasts about one second. In that one second, they typically drum about 19 times! Drumming is primarily used by males to attract mates or to communicate with their partner.
Credit for Recordings
Macaulay Library at the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology.
Recordists: Timothy Barksdale, Steven Biggers, Bob McGuire, Wil Hershberger, Jay McGowan
Images used under license
from Shutterstock.com

Пікірлер: 330

@BadVibesForever966 Жыл бұрын

Huh so this is the little guy I keep hearing in my backyard. So cute!

@SKYCHICK__ 5 ай бұрын

This calls the woodpeckers to me. They respond to the video every single time I play it!

@scook4141 4 ай бұрын

I have a red-bellied that bangs on my gutter at sunrise to tell me there are no peanuts in the feeder. He's better than an alarm clock. Love him!

@DM-ig6pn 11 күн бұрын

That is so cool. I hear them around my property all the time.

@amykat75 Жыл бұрын

I have them at my suet feeders several times a day. The call I hear the most is the second one. I can tell one is on its way to my yard when I hear it. If you want to attract them, they love peanut butter suet. I attach it to my trees in a cage feeder.

@StephanieHughes-tg5sh Жыл бұрын

I’m in the Panhandle of Florida and I hear all these daily! I call them my woodpecker family that visits the yard

@patriciafuller9948 Жыл бұрын

Yes I hear this everyday here in western Kentucky.

@user-oe6ix5ts8f Жыл бұрын

I hear these all the time in my area of Ocean County NJ, mostly the churr sound and the knocking sound

@Sherralyn 4 ай бұрын

We're just south of Atlanta, GA. We get quite a few of these after unshelled peanuts, and suet. If we dont see them everyday, we sure do hear them. Beautiful birds.

@ShawnSchmitz-vh7wq 4 ай бұрын

I live between Gardner & Coal City,Il. And there are a few of them here, I love sitting watching&listening to all the birds

@kristineberger3621 Жыл бұрын

Love watching them. I'm in Wisconsin..

@denisekelch9847 Жыл бұрын

I have one out back , couldn’t see him or figure out what bird was making that sound, finally went out this evening and there he was doing all of these sounds along with his loud pecking on my tree. Beautiful bird .

@denisekelch9847 Жыл бұрын

I live in Lexington, Kentucky.

@kennethmurphy8585 8 ай бұрын

We hear these magnificent calls regularly in our backyard woods in Scarborough, Maine.

@ewc58 Жыл бұрын

Happily I hear all 3 sounds frequently in Southern NY state. I love these beautiful birds and welcome their presence each time I see or hear one

@janisezack1610 Жыл бұрын

Hi Jacksonville, Florida commenting. Yes, I hear, and see,several red-bellied woodpeckers at my suet and mealworms feeders. The same goes for the pileated, hairy and downey woodpeckers. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a redheaded woodpecker in years. Others in my neighborhood have seen RHWPs in their yard. I have quite a few bird feeders in my yard and the crescent on our street. My neighborhood was built in 1950. We are lucky to have a large amount of mature trees surrounding our subdivision. 🐦

@saw6444 Жыл бұрын

Love watching/hearing them in my backyard - Robinson, Texas 💛

@stuff2047 Жыл бұрын

I have a ton of them around my house. For me, I notice that although I have a huge variety of different types of birds that visit my feeders, there are certain ones more prominent at the feeders every month or couple of months at a time. In August & September it was the American Goldfinch and Mourning Doves, now it’s the Red Bellied Woodpeckers and Cardinal. Love it. In Calvert County Maryland

@judithhabersaat4146 Жыл бұрын

I have heard the calls here eastern pa yardley morrisv 2:22 ille area

@user-gn1ex4pp4z Жыл бұрын

We have been living in the same woods for 25 years in Norway, ME. Started to hear the red bellied woodpecker calls about 3 years ago and see them regularly at our feeders.

@cathyellinger3882 Жыл бұрын

Southeast side of Michigan. After a bunch of severe storms came through spawning tornadoes all over, our regular group of birds started bringing in stragglers. That's when we got our first red-bellies. I have heard all three sounds and even watched from our glassed in tinted windowed gazebo as a male danced for the female on our fence amid the middle calls made by both birds.. was epic.. they bring their babies here to grow up!

@maryannyutzy4321 Жыл бұрын

We live in Milford, Delaware and we hear these sounds ALL the time. Our one Red-bellied has taken to yammering on the rain gutter of our sun room and THAT is really noisy! How do they keep from getting a headache when just hearing them almost can GIVE me one! We are also blessed with Downy Woodpeckers and Pileated Woodpeckers. One of the best things I’ve seen was a parent Downy on our deck rail, under a suet block, feeding an almost fledgling juvenile. Ah, wild birds! What a blessing they are to this Delaware Grammy.

@lrico3 Жыл бұрын

We have enjoyed having them around and listening to them here in Texas ❤

@user-fc6og3kt4b 10 ай бұрын

I have a couple that come to my feeders several times a day in Arlington, Texas! I hear the second call mostly, but occasionally I’ll hear the tapping.

@timmysteph Жыл бұрын

I've always wondered what red bellied woodpeckers sound like,Thank you scott

@BirdWatchingHQ Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@bonniecooper4144 Жыл бұрын

Omg I love these guys!!! I have a “resident woodpecker” that does the second noise when he sees me outside and I feed him unsalted roasted shelled peanuts & so now soon as he sees me outside in the yard (especially on the porch where I sit)he will fly down to the wooden fence next to the porch and sit there making that second noise til I notice him and throw him a handful of peanuts♥️I tell my husband it sounds like a lil dog bark and he does it til I throw the peanuts then he stops and goes abt his business. He use to rat-a-tat tat on the metal gutters everyday til I heard him and came out to toss him a few peanuts-they’re soo smart♥️Thanks for the video it’s great⭐️🙌🏻⭐️ p.s. loving these vocal lil guys and this video from Pemberton, New Jersey🌻

@Michael-no6jw Жыл бұрын

That's exactly what the one does that visits me,he'll keep chatting until I acknowledge him,he's great,I love him,he comes a few times daily

@shawnricks2177 3 ай бұрын

I’m relaxing in my backyard listening to one right now in Mayville, Michigan! 😊

@mynameisjoeyknuckles Жыл бұрын

I’ve definitely seen a Red Bellied Woodpecker come to my house. Now for me in my town we don’t really see that much woodpeckers, but I actually saw it come twice! Almost forgot! Found them in NY

@janaelliott9321 Жыл бұрын

My 89 yr old Dad has a male and a female red bellied wood pecker at the house I grew up in and now have returned in Tulsa ok. We are very fortunate to live in a highly treed neighborhood where we enjoy resident birds as well as migratory. Thank you for your channel! I see you on tv sometimes, too!

@grbc2324 Күн бұрын

My husband & I have heard this strange bird call for a while. We finally saw him flying between trees near our backyard feeder. I love his/her sounds. Thanks for posting this video.

@OspreyFlyer Жыл бұрын

Just saw and/or heard several in NE Oklahoma while birding this morning.

@gregoryfata2463 Жыл бұрын

I hear the churr all the time. I’m glad to finally know what bird it is. I am in Southeastern Michigan.

@janicesieracki6811 4 ай бұрын

I live in Harford County, Md. and was actually listening to a wood pecker this morning while falling back asleep. Also a couple summers ago took a picture of one on my deck eating from the bird feed. Beautiful bird.

@stephaniecollins6052 Жыл бұрын

I love to see them come to the bird feeder in winter. I can even hear a chirping and know there's one nearby so I'll run to the window. Im in mid missouri

@Mommy2Gav05 Жыл бұрын

I have a family of these beautiful birds in my oak tree! They're such amazing animals! ❤ sending love and positive vibes from South Jersey!

@MarilynAnderson-ni3cx Жыл бұрын

Have a lot here in Minnesota. They are very considerate at the window bird feeders I have. Other birds linger and eat. The red bellied woodpecker comes, takes a nut and leaves to eat it somewhere else, thus leaving the birdfeeder open for other birds. A very polite bird!

@Turbo4Joe363 Жыл бұрын

We have a male & female pair that have been visiting our suet feeder for the last 3 years. The suet feeder is on our deck, and if we are sitting out on the deck, they will perch in nearby trees and make unhappy calls until we go inside and let them get to the suet feeder....so cool. Sometimes if we sit very still and quiet on the deck they will fly down (within 6 feet if us!) to the suet feeder. We are in a typical suburban neighborhood... nothing but houses around us, but we planted lots of trees in our previously barren backyard 25 years ago.

@jolenebauser408 Жыл бұрын

I live in Illinois, close to St Louis and I have a few that visit my feeders and have heard all three of their calls. I enjoy watching them!

@andreaechelberger7782 Жыл бұрын

One of the first bird call IDs I was ever able to identify. Hear all 3 sounds here in central Michigan. Nice video, thanks.

@EmpressofAtlanta Жыл бұрын

I am in South Cobb Atlanta Ga and hear them all the time! I didn't know until I watched this video, thanks!😊 Now I have up peanut butter suet and I play this video to bring them to the feeder so they can eat and I can take video and pictures!

@marshad.l.kelley2272 6 ай бұрын

We have a family of Red Bellied Woodpeckers. Gumper is the father, his mate, and two fledgings. Our dog found two babies on the ground. One was dead and covered in ants, the other I rescued, fed when he was hungry, and released back into nature when he could fly. He and his family live here, and Gumper comes to chat when I call him by his name. We love to watch them

@elizabethnoelle914 8 ай бұрын

Lucky to have some in my backyard in Oakland County, Michigan. I frequently hear the churring sound when I step outside. I think they like me!

@karenfloyd8098 6 ай бұрын

I am in NC. I have one that comes to my feeder every day. The sound I hear is the contact call! I am watching him now, and he takes the peanuts from my seed and eats the suet from my suet plugs! Love him!!! I have pileated ones that are in the trees close to my house also.

@marylehrman1274 Жыл бұрын

I also have …cardinals, blue jays , finches, grackles, squirrels, ducks, bunnies. It is quite a show. Luv it!!!!

@brendagrunwald7829 3 ай бұрын

Have these. Medford Minnesota. Even a big pleated woodpecker. Noisy guys. 😃

@1958Citation Жыл бұрын

These birds are very common in Huntington, NY. Every once in awhile they will drum on my roof antenna which reverberates throughout the house... sometimes very early in the morning!

@steveknickerbocker7054 4 ай бұрын

We have one that comes around every year in our backyard- Matthews North Carolina. We have lots of trees on our property and undeveloped underbrush. He sometimes hangs off of our feeder to eat. Can always tell when he is around by his rolling churr.......................my favorite bird in the yard by far........................

@Phishouttawatta 8 ай бұрын

Heard them just before watching this video in Saint Mary’s GA. I heard the contact call and saw two birds flitting from tree to tree and id’d them with the Merlin app. Was able to find this video to identify why they were calling. Super cool. And when I played it loud they started making more noise 😮😮

@ABenelli605 Жыл бұрын

I saw one of these guys up close for the first time last week! While visiting my family for the holidays, there was one that would commonly frequent our backyard bird feeder in northern Georgia, with easy viewing from the kitchen window. I also saw one on a tree today in Louisiana.

@user-iz1wn7ht4b Жыл бұрын

I have one that lands on my chimney and drums on the steel cap that covers the flue opening. In the living room, it is so loud that it sometimes scares the heck out of me at first. But usually he lets out a few "churrs" before commencing to drum. Rochester, NY

@jhbisker Жыл бұрын

Columbus OH - Just saw one, and found your video; “churr” confirms it!

@kellymonahan-dinoia3225 Жыл бұрын

I see the red bellied woodpecker at my suet cages and I hear them all the time. The churning sound as well as the squeak. I’m in CT

@trinaaguila7345 6 ай бұрын

In Miami I am so lucky to get these red bellied woodpeckers in my advocado tree ( even nesting ) and drumming too on the wooden electricity poles nearby . So I hear the calls regularly.

@GuitarGuyChrisB Жыл бұрын

I've had them at my bird feeders repeatedly throughout the day for the past few weeks and I'm hearing a lot of drumming in the tree line behind my home. Once on my house! They are beautiful birds, though.

@thegamingpro5501 Жыл бұрын

I have one that comes to my tree faithfully every day and he flys on to my picnic table feeder when I whistle for him. I live in Windsor Ontario

@nancybee77 Жыл бұрын

I definitely heard the contact call and didn't recogize which bird it was, so I peeked out the window and saw a male red-bellied woodpecker. I love all woodpeckers! I'm in New Hampshire.

@user-kg9vf9vs7x 9 ай бұрын

Middleburg, Clay County, Florida - Upland scrub habitat. Also visited by Pileated and Downy woodpeckers. Yard is as natural as possible for my visitors.

@ceej416 8 ай бұрын

We've just started seeing a red bellied woodpecker, several times a day, at our feeder in Minneapolis. I've heard the first call in the neighborhood for the last year. We also have hairy and downy woodpeckers coming to the feeder, but this is the first time for the red bellied!

@ariannalehala5992 Жыл бұрын

I just attracted my first red bellied woodpecker since starting to feed the birds a couple weeks ago! I’m so excited I didn’t expect to see one so soon

@barbaraarbkkostelnik Жыл бұрын

I've been hearing the first sound in my back yard a lot this morning, and that drumming (on our house!) often wakes me up in the morning! White Oak West, a NW suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. I rarely see one, though. Actually, just once that I remember, a year or two ago! I have a seed feeder and a suet feeder, and it was on them (they're right next to, sort of on top of, one another).

@davidschad1472 Жыл бұрын

I'm in oswego County NY. I get them at my suet feeders daily. Have at least 5 in my woods, I've that many on my feeders at once. I heard the drumming daily, must say mixed with the Cardinals, chickadees, Redwinged black birds & Blue Jay's makes a great little Is orchestra. The first 2 sounds are heard often as well.

@jenniferhughes1218 8 ай бұрын

My 3 year old son and I saw this woodpeckers and heard its "che" call in our tree in North West Arkansas!

@user-se9ki3wp1w Жыл бұрын

Hear them all the time. They love Honey Roasted peanuts here in Waverly VA😊

@kellherman Жыл бұрын

Just heard one in the park the other day, first time! Took a video and matched it to this, exact match. We heard sound number 2, the contact call.

@bonnielindsey8663 4 ай бұрын

I have heard all the sounds. Today I saw two in the trees and at my feeder. It was so exciting. I’m in northwest Florida

@yessumyecrad Жыл бұрын

One woke me up this morning (central NH) making the first sound! It was a nice surprise because I almost never see them in our yard!

@diannashuster5594 Жыл бұрын

I just saw one this afternoon on my neighbors roof. Gorgeous bird. I live in East Central Florida.

@gidgetkyer4854 6 ай бұрын

I have 2 families of red bellied woodpeckers that visit my yard. Every morning they greet me (along with the bluejays) to get their peanuts.

@melissasmith-pq8sq 8 ай бұрын

Just saw this bird and heard the drumming today! Thanks for this information. 🐦

@user-Tinkerbell.Ortiz13 Жыл бұрын

I live in Red Oak, Tx. I have one that comes and eats at my feeder in the morning. I hear both sounds.

@Knitterm0m Жыл бұрын

My neighbors yard in Bethlehem PA. In the early morning I hear the drumming and in the afternoon the churr I saw the bird in the dead part of their white birch

@julieg9847 Жыл бұрын

I hear them all the time in N.W PA. Currently they are coming to my Oriole grape jelly feeder.

@JAX207CFS Жыл бұрын

I didn't know what species of birds make the #1 and #2 sounds until now. Thank you!

@carlahenning7280 8 ай бұрын

I’ve had woodpeckers that visit for years. Their screeches sound more like screaming at times. Definitely they drum on my trees and my house. I live in Sherwood Arkansas

@trishkauffeldt8701 Жыл бұрын

I have a single male that comes yo my feeder in the winter. I grew up outside Renfrew, Ontario and had never seen one, but have since moved to Toledo, Ontario and see just the one regularly.

@AmyKover-fr5nr Жыл бұрын

I have been hearing their drumming for years, but only just spotted one today in Northern NJ.

@Johnny_RB Жыл бұрын

I live in the panhandle of Florida very near Panama City. I have quite a few of these that come around to my peanut-cracked sunflower seed feeder. Some of them are quite young and will let me walk almost right up to them. They are not afraid of the bully crows, they will just keep on the feeder until they get what they want.

@ryanwi37 6 ай бұрын

We just 2 in our tree cha cha chaing away! Firt time seeing two at a time here. SE Wisconsin

@angeliquenstewart Жыл бұрын

Louisville, Kentucky we had to wrap the wooden parts of our 1970s house with aluminum siding to keep them off the house. 10 + years of patching with new wood didn't help. It was the Stewart -Woodpecker house. They nested between the bedroom windows.

@c.1916 4 ай бұрын

Great and useful video, thank you! I knew I was hearing a woodpecker, but I didn't recall what kind, and this was it. Makes sense as we have a lot of them here in SW FL! I've been hearing both the "churr" and "contact" calls, so now I know to look out for more than one bird!

@scottsmith340 Жыл бұрын

3 days or so in the backyard in Minneapolis Mn. They are hard to spot for sure. Might have to try the salted peanut in shells😊

@winnhill3736 8 ай бұрын

I reside on a farm in east central Arkansas and i hear these calls almost daily, as i have several red-bellied,downeys,and the occasional red headed and Northern flicker.Not seen a hairy.IMO the red- headed is the most beautiful bird i have seen,but they don't come around alot.😊

@sandraphillips5947 Жыл бұрын

Love these birds!!!!! I hear them in Central NC.

@vickyfloyd7230 Жыл бұрын

I have several that visit and eat homemade suet here in my backyard. Orange, Texas 2:06

@jenniferhayes3042 Жыл бұрын

Just took photos & a video of a Red Bellied Woodpecker today on our Apple Tree.

@marymartin46 3 ай бұрын

Just saw and heard a Red Bellied Woodpecker this morning in Dedham Massachusetts.

@chrisspinney3679 Жыл бұрын

I just played your Red Bellied sound after hearing one. It played on my JBL speaker on my deck and one came by to investgate. Happened twice! Carlisle MA.

@blackie1of4 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing this.. I hear them all the time in Central Pennsylvania ❤

@sarathurston3318 Жыл бұрын

Southern New Jersey, the woodpecker is the second-noisiest bird after the Carolina wren. 😀

@teresacongdon3615 3 ай бұрын

Have them year round in Southeast Wisconsin (just saw one a few minutes ago), along with a ton of Downy and a very occasional Hairy. Seen only one Red-Headed at my previous home and one Flicker here - was very excited. My dream is to see a Pileated!!!

@michaelcuffia9439 9 ай бұрын

We constantly have a few here in the Birmingham, Alabama area. They love no melt peanut delight suet.

@dannyholder4675 Ай бұрын

See two of them every morning in Forest Park Springfield MA. Enjoy watching them compete with Jays & Grackles

@AgoristAlex 2 ай бұрын

Great captures

@pdmurray70 Ай бұрын

Had one yesterday here in McMinnville TN ❤ Loves the Black Sunflower seeds we put out 😊

@sherry3612 4 ай бұрын

Saw and heard today at Lake Nokomis Minneapolis,MN😊

@gurzs1 Жыл бұрын

Hearing them in Wallingford, CT!

@heatherolson6394 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this - I heard this first churr sound the other day here is Sachse, Tx and wasn’t sure what bird was making the sound!

@phillyjoe440 5 күн бұрын

We have a couple at our backyard feeders in Viera FL, just heard one drumming after playing this video

@robertprice7246 2 ай бұрын

I love these little Birdie Birds ! I heard one "whirring" at my Grandsons house just this afternoon May 12th. We used to have a suet cage by our bird feeder at our house when I was in my very early teens and would see these and the little black and white woodpecker there a lot

@dalejirschele1299 Жыл бұрын

I'm in Central Wisconsin and just heard the "churr" sound today March 04, 2023. I've heard this call several times walking the pooch and the Woodpeckers don't seem to like to be seen.

@patrickzjd 3 ай бұрын

I hear both the churr and the drumming pattern every day across the street from my house, which is across the street from the Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne, New Jersey. Indeed, I feel very sorry for these little guys because they always peck on a guard around wires coming from an electrical transformer. It's amazing to hear all the woodpeckers, especially in the morning, and thanks for solving the mystery of what bird is making these calls and drums!