The common larger garden woodpecker in most areas, often at feeders. Conspicuous and vocal, it is the woodpecker many nonbirders notice. Prefers open deciduous woodland such as parks, gardens, golf courses as well as larger forest. Poorly named after barely noticeable red on belly. Often mistakenly called �Red-headed Woodpecker.� A better name would be �Bar-backed� or �Red-naped Woodpecker.� In flight, underwing finely patterned black and white, adding to barred appearance. White patch at base of primaries obvious even at distance. Call: a piercing qwe-eer, rising at end, a common sound in e. woodland. ID: Medium-sized. Slim head, long bill, and spiked tail give it a slender appearance though it is quite large-bodied. Barred back can look surprisingly uniform but always contrasts with red head. Buff underparts, and white rump with faint black bars. Orange-red on head variable in extent. Birds in S average smaller and darker, with white in tail restricted to rump, but much variation. Ad ?: red from nape to bill, often paler on forehead. Diffuse red belly patch. Ad ?: gray crown, pale belly. Juv: limited orange nape and nasal tufts (forehead); quickly molts into adult-like plumage through fall.