A series highlighting some of the wildlife of the Gettysburg Battlefield photographed there by the webmaster.
Offering a variety of habitat ranging from mature forest to open pasture, the Gettysburg National Military Park is home to many species of animals including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. This post focuses on the park’s red headed woodpeckers.
The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a striking bird. An aggressive bird, they do not like to be spotted and if they catch you looking at them, they will take off quickly. Look for the bright red head and the black and white back.
Best Places to See Them: Gettysburg boasts a large population of these often very elusive birds. The best place to see them in my experience is 1) The woods between the Tennessee Monument and the Virginia Monument; 2) the Loop near the Rose Farm and the Wheatfield; 3) the witness tree in Devil’s Den. The bird pictured here was photographed in the Devil’s Den witness tree.
