01/16/2023
Take a look at this colorful Red-bellied Woodpecker! This is a great photo in that it shows the red belly, which isn't always easy to see. Did you know there are eight species of woodpeckers in Florida? Believe it or not, all of them can be found in the area of the Withlacoochee State Trail! The eight different varieties of Woodpeckers are the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. the Red-cockaded is only in certain locations, small territories due to challenges with their habitat.
Although woodpeckers eat nuts such as this acorn, they also eat insects such as spiders, ants, grubs and other creatures that bore into wood. They will eat tree sap as well as seeds, berries and fruit. Many people think that the drumming that woodpeckers perform is to get to food, which sometimes is true. They will "drum" the insect from their burrow for a tasty snack. They also drum to claim a territory or to attract a mate. There is a myth that woodpeckers kill trees by drumming holes but in fact, the tree is already compromised and the woodpeckers are taking advantage of the decaying wood.
See how many woodpeckers you can see on the Trail today! Gabrielle
