Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 31,714 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Red-headed Woodpecker: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-headed Woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a small or medium-sized woodpecker from temperate North America. Their breeding habitat is open country across southern Canada and the eastern-central United States. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-headed Woodpecker by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 3,246 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Illinois | 2,681 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Florida | 2,273 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Texas | 2,257 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Virginia | 1,655 | May | Apr–Mar |
| North Carolina | 1,403 | May | Oct–Aug |
| Alabama | 1,368 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 1,167 | May | Dec–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,166 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Indiana | 1,130 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Missouri | 1,065 | May | Dec–Oct |
| Arkansas | 1,053 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 1,044 | May | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | 976 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 912 | May | May–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 851 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 743 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 734 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Iowa | 689 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Louisiana | 623 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Minnesota | 612 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 568 | May | May–Aug |
| New York | 540 | May | Mar–Aug |
| Mississippi | 503 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Kansas | 430 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kentucky | 372 | May | Mar–Aug |
| South Dakota | 360 | August | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 234 | May | Jan–Jun |
| Colorado | 188 | May | May–Sep |
| West Virginia | 136 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 108 | January | Oct–Jan |
| Montana | 101 | August | May–Aug |
| North Dakota | 91 | June | May–Aug |
| Wyoming | 86 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 74 | May | May–Jun |
| California | 62 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Connecticut | 62 | October | Oct–Jan |
| Delaware | 50 | August | May–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 29 | March | Mar–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 20 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arizona | 14 | June | May–Jun |
| Maine | 10 | October | Oct–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 7 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Woodpeckers)
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red-headed Woodpecker?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Red-headed Woodpecker most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Illinois, Florida.