Friday's Foto

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

As winter approaches, this Red-bellied Woodpecker instinctively begins caching acorns and other nuts for the lean days ahead. This bird gets its name from the pinkish blush on its underside, which is not always very apparent. Previously rare around New York, this species has expanded its range farther north in recent decades. Their breeding range is primarily in eastern North America from Florida to Canada. Making its nest in cavities, they frequently compete with the more aggressive European Starling, who readily evict them from prime locations. The IUCN Red List lists their conservation status as "Least Concern". Their scientific name, Melanerpes carolinus, means black creeper of Carolina.