Red-headed Woodpecker spotted in the Ottawa Valley

On Jan. 11, 2026, Heather Ball of Wilson Road reported a Red-headed Woodpecker visiting her yard for several days; the species is an infrequent visitor to the Ottawa Valley and was last recorded locally in July 2020.

A Red-headed Woodpecker was reported in the Ottawa Valley in January. On Jan. 11, 2026, Heather Ball of Wilson Road informed the writer that the bird had been in her yard for several days. The species is described as one of the more attractive woodpeckers and only visits the area occasionally. The last known local sighting occurred in July 2020. Observed details: - Report date and observer: Jan. 11, 2026; Heather Ball of Wilson Road reported the bird in her yard for several days. - Species: Red-headed Woodpecker, noted as an infrequent visitor to the Ottawa Valley. - Previous local sightings: The last sighting known to the writer was on July 15, 2020 on Sandy Beach Road, with another report around the same date in the Mud Lake area. - Frequency and range: The area typically records about one of these woodpeckers a year; they generally remain in southern Ontario. - Past discussion: There was earlier speculation about a northward range expansion similar to the Cardinal, but that expansion has not been observed since 2020. Summary: The recent observation provides a fresh, confirmed sighting of a species that appears only sporadically in the Ottawa Valley. Undetermined at this time.