An immature Red-headed Woodpecker showed up at Florence Germond's house Nov. 28, 1971. It stayed in the area until April 18, 1972 when it had full adult plumage, then was seen only a few more times, the last time on May 9, 1972. The head started to change in January. The picture at right was probably taken in March 1972. Florence lived on the Shunpike near route 82, in the Town of Washington.

The second photo was taken in Poughquag.  This bird appeared in Carena Pooth's yard October 23-24, 2004 and aggressively drove other woodpeckers away from suet.  It is a juvenile bird, as evidenced by the brown head, but small flecks of red are visible.

Dutchess County is near the eastern edge of the Red-headed Woodpecker's range.  While uncommon, with luck and persistence they can be found.  Their population has fluctuated numerous times in Dutchess County.  After declining for most of the twentieth century, Red-headed Woodpeckers increased from about 1960 to about 1984, only to decline again in the 1990s.