Monotypic (or up to 4 weakly defined ssp. sometimes recognized). Length 9". All red-bellied woodpeckers show a black-and-white barred back, white uppertail coverts, grayish white underparts ...

The back shows 2 rows of whitish or yellow-buff spots or bars, but this patterning is very limited in northern birds. Adult: red head and breast, pale yellow belly, back black with geographically ...