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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant, common nesting species, and rare winter resident. Occurrence dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 28 April to 17 October. Tout (1947) found red-headed woodpecker commonly in Lincoln County during 4 May to 13 October. Weakley (1940) stated that this species was unusually plentiful near North Platte in 1940. Rosche (1979) reported red-headed woodpecker in the lower North Platte River Valley 14 May to 14 October.

Breeding Range: A common and conspicuous nesting species in the Platte River Valley west to Keith County, and on the Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain. Fairly common along the North Platte and South Platte Rivers. Rare and local (or absent) on the Western Plain and in the Sandhills.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 29,000 breeding pairs. Red-headed woodpecker ranked 23rd in abundance among all nesting species present, and made up 1% of total bird numbers.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting density in shelterbelts (79.2 pairs/km²), followed by lowland forest (14.1 pairs/km²), residential (6.2 pairs/km²), wet prairie (1.0 pairs/km²), upland prairie (0.5 pairs/km²), domestic hayland (0.5 pairs/km²), river channel island (0.5 pairs/km²), corn (0.2 pairs/km²), and alfalfa (<0.2 pairs/km²). Rising (1974) considered red-headed woodpecker a common summer resident throughout western Kansas in open woodlands. Johnsgard (1980) stated that habitat use in Nebraska included open forests, woodlots, urban parks and residential areas. Graber and Graber (1963) found 5.7 birds/km² in Illinois forests. They went on to state that in Illinois, red-headed woodpecker prefers savanna-like habitats during the breeding season.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Red-headed woodpecker has benefited greatly from de-watering of the Platte River system and the subsequent encroachment of wooded vegetation in the river channel, as well as from planting shelterbelts in the uplands. The presence of this species in agricultural habitats is indicative of the species ability to exploit artificial habitats for foraging. Graber and Graber (1963) found that the statewide populations of red-headed woodpecker in Illinois declined by 90% from 1908 to 1958. Some of the decline was attributed to habitat change, but more important was competition for nest sites by European starlings.

Nesting Data: We have one confirmed nest record from Phelps County in 1979 and one from Hall County, although numerous immature-plumaged birds are observed throughout the study area, especially in early August. Egg dates in North Dakota extend from 5 June to 23 July (Stewart 1975).