Red Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Siebenthaler Fen, Beavercreek, Ohio
"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything." - William Shakespeare
A more uncommon woodpeckers to spot, this red headed variety is often found at wetlands skulking the dead trees. Their call is a standout to me in that it sounds very hoarse and wheezy, like the bird has a sore throat. They're aren't too many wetlands left in the Buckeye State, so seeing this one at a local spot had me excited. It checked off another species for my life list!
One would think that bright red would be obvious, however recent reports have shown their numbers will only be declining with time. The state of Ohio has several "very at risk" species for loss that specifically named this bird. For that reason, I am very fortunate to have spent a decent amount of time with this individual.
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