Avian Red Wake-up
High in the tree branches in Riverside Park, a small, brilliant flash of red startled me. It soon revealed itself to be the head of a black-and-white woodpecker. The little fellow was very active, hopping from one branch to another with great rapidity, ducking behind branches and twigs, making it hard for me to get a good look at its entire form. And, of course, I had left behind both my binoculars and my camera.
Was the beautiful bird a Red-bellied woodpecker?
Red-bellied woodpecker by John James Audubon
(Despite its name, the Red-bellied woodpecker is notably black and white with a red cap and nape. The name derives from a reddish tinge on the belly that is really only visible when the bird is examined close up.) I watched until the bird swooped off, scalloping the air, to another tree. But when I got home and opened a bird book, it was the the flash of a red cap that lit the image in my mind. A red cap, not a red cap and nape. So hmmm…
Could it have been a yellow-bellied sapsucker?
Yellow-bellied sapsucker by John James Audubon.
Both birds are seen in NYC parks, although the Yellow-bellied sapsucker is apparently less common. But something about the coloring, and even the cap, just doesn’t seem quite right when compared with the bird in my mind’s eye. So I believe it was a Red-bellied. Next time I’ll know better how to look at a red-headed woodpecker to note its defining marks.
The unexpected flash of avian red has stayed with me, like a wake-up of some kind. “Sleeper, awake!” the little bird signaled to me. A good jolt with which to start a new year.
Since I have no photo of my woodpecker, here is a different bit of vibrant wake-up-the-new-year red, photographed by a friend on his morning walk.
Cardinal in NYC, plumped against the cold. Photo: Rob Pavlin
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Tags: avian red, identifying woodpeckers, NYC cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, red-capped woodpecker, woodpeckers in New York City, yellow-bellied sapsucker
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Out walking the dog 
January 3, 2013 at 4:12 am
Absolutely stunning – no cardinals here, it is awesome!
January 6, 2013 at 8:26 am
Cardinals are always a joy to see, it’s true. Thanks for stopping by, Rose.
January 1, 2013 at 10:44 am
Other black and white woodpeckers and more common than the red-belly are the hairy and downie woodpeckers. The hairy is as big as a red-bely but has less red, not down its neck but a bright red cap at the back of its head, as does the downy…but it’s a small very fast moving bird.
Enjoy your search Melissa… and the cardinals this year are a brilliant red – so glad you have a photo of one for your blog. Happy new year!
January 1, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Your search led to a set of lovely pictures. A fine New Year’s gift!
Thanks especially for the glorious Audubon the puffed-up cardinal.
January 6, 2013 at 8:27 am
Thank you. It is a beautiful photo Rob took.
January 6, 2013 at 8:28 am
Yes, I also see a Downy that hangs out – or used to – about five blocks north of here in a “forever wild” section of the park. They are really cute little birds. Do you have many cardinals up in your part of Ontario?