Woodpeckers (help with ID please)

I've been shooting all the birds in our yard lately and I haven't been able to figure out what kind of woodpecker this is. The first four shots were taken a few days ago and the last two were taken a few hours ago, and I suspect they are two different birds (one bird in the first four, a different bird in the second two). At first I thought it was a red-cockaded woodpecker because there is a large state park a few miles away that is known for having them. I'm not really sure what it is anymore, any help would be appreciated. I've done a few of the bird ID guides and the results are always a hairy woodpecker and a red bellied woodpecker, but I don't think the pictures match what I have.

The habitat is primarily swampy pine forest in south Louisiana.

1.

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The first ones are either a male Downey or a Hairy. Almost impossible to tell apart at that distance. The second one is likely a male Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Mturnbo wrote in post #13597758
The first ones are either a male Downey or a Hairy. Almost impossible to tell apart at that distance. The second one is likely a male Red-bellied Sapaucker.

Thanks for the help. I looked up the birds you suggested and I'd have to agree with you. I guess I'll consider myself lucky that I have two different species of woodpeckers in my back yard. I know I have some females too, they are just more reclusive.

Assuming that the bird in the first 4 shots are the same bird then that one is a male Downy Woodpecker. You can see in shots 2-4 the presence of what are often called "Downy Dots" present on the white feathers of the tail underneath the black tail feathers. Below is a composite I put together of fanned out tail feathers of the 2 species of woodpeckers that are easily confused w/each other.

Steve, Thanks for the excellent explanation. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of the Red Bellied woodpecker while I'm home and if I get some more useable shots I'll be sure to post them for everybody. I had a few more of the red bellied, and I think I had a side view that I threw out. If its still on the memory card I'll post it in the morning. Thanks again

Have to agree with Steve, in fact I did not know about the tails before.
Nice shots if the are a bit off, the Red-belly colors and clarity turned out nicely. Lets see some more!

Thanks BGgraphy!

Here is the shot that I was talking about before. You can probably see why I threw it out, but luckily it was still on my card. It is the same bird as the last two pictures I posted.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61875474@N06/6​575247927/