Confoundingly named, the red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) displays its bright-red color on its head like a cap, while its belly appears pale; a closer look reveals a reddish tinge on its abdomen that’s hard to see from afar. Its shrill call can be heard across great distances, however, and once you learn the rolling kwirr or churr sound, you’ll likely recognize it pealing around Glenstone’s campus, particularly during spring and summer. The red-bellied woodpecker’s loud vocalizations are accompanied by percussive tracks during mating season, when males drum rapidly against tree trunks with their bills. Both males and females produce slower tapping sounds during pre-nesting periods, which is believed to help maintain pair bonds.

–Bonnie Lane, from the Glenstone Field Guide