To see a larger image of the above photo, click directly on the photo.

Note:  The large signature/watermark on the image above is not on the final purchased image -- it is only on this page for copyright protection.  Unauthorized use of this image is prohibited..

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Despite its name, this Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) only has slight red on its belly. He was foraging for food when I saw him in the morning, looking for insects and occasionally hammering into the tree trunk with his beak. Luckily, he posed nicely for me on this branch. 
Luckily, populations of red-bellied woodpeckers are not declining as so many other bird species are. 

From Audubon’s website: “Primarily a bird of the southeast, where its rolling calls are familiar sounds in swamps and riverside woods. Omnivorous and adaptable, this woodpecker has also adjusted to life in suburbs and city parks, and in recent years it has been expanding its range to the north. Despite the name, the red on the belly is not often visible in the field.” 

Photo taken on November 17, 2016, in Wisconsin