What genus classification is assigned to the Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Melanerpes carolinus*)?
Answer
Genus *Melanerpes*
The specific taxonomic address for well-known birds clarifies how general family traits are refined into specialized habits and relationships. The Red-bellied Woodpecker, identified by its scientific name *Melanerpes carolinus*, is classified under the genus *Melanerpes*. Birds within this genus often share distinct habits, such as being generalist foragers that engage in caching food items. This genus designation places it alongside related species that share these characteristics, differentiating it from other genera within the same subfamily, Picinae. For instance, its habits differ enough from a Flicker (*Colaptes*), which favors ground foraging, to warrant distinct genus placement.
Related Questions
What other bird families share the Order Piciformes with woodpeckers?What defining morphological feature is crucial for woodpeckers within the Family Picidae?Which of the four main subfamilies of Picidae contains the vast majority of true woodpeckers?Which genus within Picidae is specifically associated with specialized sapsuckers drilling sap wells?What is the functional role ascribed to the specialized tongue within the Picidae family?What taxonomic rank is occupied by the wrynecks in the Picidae family classification?What genus classification is assigned to the Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Melanerpes carolinus*)?Why is the assignment to Order Piciformes significant regarding superficially similar birds like flickers?What behavior distinguishes the Flicker genus (*Colaptes*) from the Red-bellied Woodpecker genus (*Melanerpes*)?What is the scope of species included within the highly successful Family Picidae?