Encounter with Chester (sort of) and a Red-bellied Woodpecker

A few weeks back, while down at the river, I startled poor Chester just after he had caught a female Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus ). He flew off, dropping the woodpecker at my feet. A rare chance to photograph this lovely bird up close, and to show the difference in the head markings, and the small red belly patch. After I took the photographs, I put the carcase back up in the tree- but I am not sure if he came back. I could identify her as a female because the red on her head is at the nape, and a tiny amount just above her beak. On the male- the nape and top of the head is red, an example of sexual dimorphism.
They nest in tree cavities, and frequently store nuts in cracks. They also will wedge a difficult nut in a crack to give them a better chance at cracking it open. They have a very long tongue,with barbs on the end and very sticky spit to aid in searching out the best morsels deep in tree crevices and holes. They are omnivores and eat insects, spiders, arthropods and numerous fruits, seeds and nuts. The tongue also exhibits another sex difference- the male's tongue is longer and has a wider tip- this may maximize their ability to forage in different situations, thus increasing the odds of success.
Red-bellied males drum (peck on wood, roofs, even metal poles) to establish and protect their territories, and the pair can be quite fierce in protecting their nest.
Great sound link provided by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology-

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-bellied_woodpecker/sounds

This is a list of the woodpeckers who live in or visit our pocket swamp, all of these I either see or hear daily.

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker