Date: 7/17/25 4:08 am From: Steve Thomas <stype...> Subject: Red-headed Woodpecker behavior, questions
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting Red-headed Woodpeckers nesting in our yard for several seasons now. Last year and this year they’ve nested in a dead tree where we have been able to watch them regularly.
Last year there were three adults in the yard around the tree. It seemed that the third red-head arrived after the nest was established, and that it possibly was taking food to the nest along with the parents. Of course, we couldn’t actually distinguish the different individuals, but that was our impression - three adults tending the nest. So are Red-headed Woodworkers known to exhibit any colonial nesting tendencies, perhaps resembling Red-cockededs in this respect? The nest was apparently successful with two juveniles appearing elsewhere in the yard.
This spring three Red-headed Woodpeckers arrived in our yard, two adults and one in late juvenile plumage - it’s head was mottled red and brown, and it had black interrupting the white in the wings. After a few days of lively interaction, only a pair remained in the yard. The interesting detail occurring this year, is that the juvenile was apparently one the parents. After what we saw last year, we at first thought the juvenile was a nest helper, but there was no third red-head in the yard. So the question here is: Do Red-headed Woodpeckers often mate with juveniles, perhaps resembling Orchard Orioles in this respect?
Maybe the juvenile was the only male or female of the trio and no other option was available. Or I suppose the two birds in adult plumage could have mated, one left and the juvenile then assumed its duties? Anyway, we’ve seen a true, fresh juvenile here this season along with the parents, and everything looks good.
