Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,303 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a medium-sized woodpecker of the family Picidae. It breeds mainly in the eastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far north as Canada. Though it has a vivid orange-red crown and nape it is not to be confused with the red-headed woodpecker, a separate species of woodpecker in the same genus with an entirely red head and neck that sports a solid black back and white belly. The red-bellied earns its name from the pale reddish tint on its lower underside. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Red-bellied Woodpecker sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 3,303 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Red-headed Woodpecker
LC

Red-headed Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

<5% · Rare
Downy Woodpecker
LC

Downy Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryobates pubescens

40–50% · Likely
Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryocopus pileatus

20–30% · Possible
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

20–30% · Possible
Hairy Woodpecker
LC Endemic

Hairy Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leuconotopicus villosus

10–20% · With luck
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
LC

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sphyrapicus varius

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

60–70
Jan
50–60
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
40–50
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
40–50
Sep
60–70
Oct
60–70
Nov
50–60
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
80–90%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
3 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
4 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
60–70%
5 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
6 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
7 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
9 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
10 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Red-bellied Woodpecker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 45% of wildlife watchers report a Red-bellied Woodpecker sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 3,303 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Red-bellied Woodpecker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Red-bellied Woodpecker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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