Red-bellied Woodpecker
Here’s a Red-bellied Woodpecker I caught at my neighbor’s feeder. They are our most common woodpeckers and have integrated nicely with humans, whether we like it or not. I’ve always wondered about their common name. Was there another species with a distinctive red belly that had usurped the name? Yes, there’s a tinge of red and if the bird’s pose is just right you can barely see it. But come on folks, we can come up with a better name. How about “red and white woodpecker”? Or, my pick: “Red-naped Woodpecker”? (Nape is the area behind the head.) Let’s vote! (Melanerpes carolinus) (Sony a9ii, 200-600mm @600, 1/2500 second, f/6.3, ISO 6400).
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Here’s a Red-bellied Woodpecker I caught at my neighbor’s feeder. They are our most common woodpeckers and have integrated nicely with humans, whether we like it or not. I’ve always wondered about their common name. Was there another species with a distinctive red belly that had usurped the name? Yes, there’s a tinge of red and if the bird’s pose is just right you can barely see it. But come on folks, we can come up with a better name. How about “red and white woodpecker”? Or, my pick: “Red-naped Woodpecker”? (Nape is the area behind the head.) Let’s vote! (Melanerpes carolinus) (Sony a9ii, 200-600mm @600, 1/2500 second, f/6.3, ISO 6400).