Red-bellied Woodpecker Population Analysis
Red-bellied Woodpecker has increased: up 46% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a North American member of the Woodpeckers (Picidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 6–19.5 in long (15–50 cm) — a chisel-billed climber (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 2,389 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 37 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Picidae · Forest birds
Notable Red-bellied Woodpecker TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for Red-bellied Woodpecker. See the full index history below.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Red-bellied Woodpecker is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 5.7 (95% range 5.0–6.5). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±4.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Red-bellied Woodpecker Is Detected
BBS routes recording Red-bellied Woodpecker, sized by most recent count.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Population Trend by State
Red-bellied Woodpecker Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 46% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.