The red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a medium-sized woodpecker native to North America. They are easily recognizable by their striking plumage, with a red head, white body, black back and tail, and black and white wings. Red-headed woodpeckers make a variety of vocalizations, including calls, that serve different functions in communication. One of the distinctive calls of the red-headed woodpecker is the “rattle call” or “rolling call” that can be heard in spring in parts of their range, including Michigan. In this article, we will explore the rattle call of the red-headed woodpecker, what it sounds like, when and where it is made, and what purpose it serves.
Description of the Red-Headed Woodpecker Rattle Call
The rattle or rolling call of the red-headed woodpecker sounds like a quick chattering or rattling noise. It has been described as sounding like “quirrrrr” or “chiv-chiv-chiv.” This call is primarily made by males in the spring, during the breeding season. The call can carry over long distances. The sound is made through rapid drumming of the bill against a resonant surface like a tree branch or utility pole. The woodpecker drums its bill from 16 to over 20 times per second, making the rattling call. This distinguishes it from the slower 9 to 15 drums per second of the regular drumming display. The repetitive nature and speed of the drums produces the rattling quality. This call is less frequent and much rarer than the more common “churr” vocalizations also made by red-headed woodpeckers.
When and Where the Call is Made
Male red-headed woodpeckers make the rattling call in spring, during late March through May in many parts of their range. This coincides with the beginning of the breeding season. In Michigan, the rattling calls can typically be heard starting in April. The call is thought to be used primarily to establish breeding territories and attract potential mates. Males will sit on an open perch like the top of a dead tree and call out loudly, allowing the rattling call to carry over long distances. They may call repeatedly, sometimes drumming for a few minutes at a time. The birds also make the call during conflicts with other males over territory boundaries. In addition to spring breeding territories, red-headed woodpeckers in Michigan are sometimes attracted to nesting colonies of black-crowned night herons, likely due to abundant food sources available near the nesting colonies. Males may use the rattling call near these colonies as they establish nesting sites.
Purpose and Function of the Call
The rattling call of the red-headed woodpecker serves multiple important functions:
– Establishing territories: The loud, carrying call allows males to announce and delineate their breeding territories in spring. Other birds are warned away.
– Attracting mates: The showy rattling display helps males demonstrate their suitability as mates to females. Females may be drawn in by the calls.
– Signaling aggression: The call is used during conflicts with other males over territorial boundaries. Rapid rattling indicates an aggressive motivation.
– Strengthening pair bonds: Mated pairs may engage in rattle calling together as a duet. This helps synchronize breeding activities between pairs.
– Marking nest sites: The call draws attention to suitable nesting cavities, which are excavated by the birds prior to breeding season. Nests are often in dead trees or utility poles.
So in summary, the rattling call of male red-headed woodpeckers serves essential breeding season functions related to territory defense, mate attraction, aggression signaling, pair bonding, and nest site designation in Michigan and other parts of the species range. The loud, attention-grabbing call allows the birds to effectively communicate motivation and mark resources critical to success in reproduction each spring.
Fun Facts About Red-Headed Woodpeckers in Michigan
Beyond the rattling call, there are some other interesting facts about red-headed woodpeckers in Michigan:
- They are seen statewide in Michigan but more common in the southern half of the state.
- Populations have declined in recent decades, with loss of habitat. They are now a species of special concern in Michigan.
- They mainly eat tree-dwelling ants and beetle larvae they dig out of dead or dying trees.
- Acorn mast crops may influence reproduction and overwinter survival.
- They are sometimes attracted to nesting colonies of great blue herons and black-crowned night herons, where food is abundant.
- They nest in tree cavities but readily use utility poles, fence posts, and other manmade structures.
- Males and females may have multiple mates within a breeding season.
- They are partially migratory, with northern birds migrating farther south.
Breeding Behavior
Some key aspects of breeding biology for red-headed woodpeckers in Michigan include:
– Nest excavation begins up to one month before eggs are laid. Cavities are often made in dead trees or branches.
– Clutch size ranges from 4 to 7 white eggs. Incubation lasts 11-13 days.
– Young fledge from nests after 26-31 days.
– Males and females cooperate in incubating eggs and feeding nestlings.
– Males defend nest sites during egg-laying and early incubation. Both sexes defend once young are present.
– Pairs may nest in loose colonies, especially near heron colonies with abundant food.
– Males and females may mate with multiple partners. Extra-pair mating is frequent.
– Pairs may produce 2 broods per breeding season. Second clutches are often in a new cavity.
Migration Patterns
In Michigan, red-headed woodpeckers exhibit partial migration based on latitude:
– Southern Michigan – mostly year-round residence.
– Northern Lower Peninsula – moderate migration, with some short-distance movement farther south in winter.
– Upper Peninsula – long-distance migration, moving south out of the region for winter.
Banded red-headed woodpeckers from Michigan have been recovered in winter as far south as Florida, Cuba, and Mexico. The extent of migration depends on severity of winter weather. Mild winters allow more birds to overwinter in northern areas of the state.
Population Status and Conservation
Population Trends
Red-headed woodpecker populations have declined significantly in past decades according to multiple data sources:
- North American Breeding Bird Survey shows survey-wide declines of -2.76% per year from 1966 to 2015.
- Christmas Bird Counts show declines of -2.4% per year from 1966 to 2012.
- Breeding populations in Michigan declined by over 60% from the 1960s to the mid-1980s based on breeding bird atlases.
However, more recent data from Michigan indicate populations may have stabilized at lower levels in the past 10-20 years. Overall populations remain well below historical numbers though.
Conservation Concerns
Major reasons for red-headed woodpecker declines include:
– Loss of oak savanna habitat, which has declined over 99% in Midwest. Savannas had dead/dying trees needed for feeding and nesting.
– Loss of open woodlots and dead trees in agricultural areas and fire suppression in remnant savannas.
– Competition for nest sites with introduced European starlings.
– Possibly increased severity of winter weather in parts of range.
Conservation Strategies
Recommended management practices to aid red-headed woodpecker conservation include:
– Protection and restoration of remaining oak savannas and open woodlands.
– Allowing controlled burns to maintain needed habitat structure and tree death.
– Retention of dead and dying trees across landscapes, both in woodlots and urban areas.
– Protection of nesting colonies near heronries.
– Public education about importance of dead trees for wildlife habitat.
– Provision of nest boxes where natural cavities are scarce.
– Monitoring populations and habitat use to assess effectiveness of management actions over time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rattling call of the red-headed woodpecker is an important breeding season vocalization used by males to establish territories, attract mates, and designate nest sites in Michigan and elsewhere across the range of this species. Red-headed woodpecker populations have undergone concerning declines due to habitat loss and competition, but targeted conservation strategies focused on protection of savannas and retention of dead trees may help stabilize numbers. Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management will be important for the long-term viability of this striking woodpecker species. With commitment to conservation, the unique rattling calls of the red-headed woodpecker may continue sounding across Michigan’s woodlands into the future.
References
Birds of the World. 2020. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), version 1.0. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rehwoo/cur/introduction
Database of the Michigan Bird Records Committee. 2022. Red-headed Woodpecker Records. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. https://mibirdatlas.org/MBRC/SpeciesAccount.aspx?spc=179
Frei, B., Rogers, C.M., Smith, J.N.M., Martin, T.E. 2017. Does nest-site competition with European Starlings influence American Kestrel reproductive success? Journal of Field Ornithology 88:342–351.
Jackson, J.A. 1976. A comparison of some aspects of the breeding ecology of Red-headed and Red-bellied woodpeckers in Kansas. The Condor 78:67-76.
Kilham, L. 1958. Territorial behavior of wintering Red-headed Woodpeckers. The Wilson Bulletin 70:347-358.
Kilham, L. 1959. Behavior and methods of communication of Pileated Woodpeckers. The Condor 61:377-387.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2015. Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan.
Smith, K.G., Withgott, J.H., Rodewald, P.G. 2000. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus). In: Poole, A.F. and Gill, F.B. (editors). The Birds of North America, No. 518. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA and American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.
Year | Population Estimate | Percent Change |
---|---|---|
1966 | 310,000 | – |
1987 | 120,000 | -61% since 1966 |
2015 | 130,000 | +8% since 1987 |