January 12 Red Bellied Sounds

A short trip to Hoyt Park this morning brought me past a new sound. It was a rising "churrr" coming from high up on the hillside. I searched for a while, before finally spotting this red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). I watched as it stretched its neck up and down while making the sound at regular intervals. A second churrr started a little further away, and this bird stopped to listen once in a few churrs. My bird guide has since told me that this is the red-belly's mating call. The males have red from beak to the back of the neck, while females have gray foreheads. Expect red-bellies, and all woodpeckers, to stay active now through the winter, as mating season heats up!