There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zebra woodpecker . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is used in North American English.
The earliest known use of the noun zebra woodpecker is in the 1880s.
OED's earliest evidence for zebra woodpecker is from 1884, in the writing of Elliott Coues, naturalist and historian.
Nearby entries zebra rhomb, n. 1770–1844 zebra rock, n. 1895– zebra rush, n. 1882– zebra shark, n. 1804– zebra skin, n. 1774– zebra spider, n. 1806– zebra suit, n. 1853– zebra swallowtail, n. 1855– zebra wolf, n. 1808– zebrawood, n. 1768– zebra woodpecker, n. 1884– zebrina, n. 1846– zebrine, adj. a1810– zebroid, adj. & n. 1881– zebrule, n. 1899– zebu, n. 1771– zecchino, n. 1572– Zechstein, n. 1798– zed, n. c1175– zedbed, n. 1954– zedoary, n. Old English–
1884–
Any of several American woodpeckers of the genus Melanerpes , having black and white barring on the back and wings; spec. the red-bellied woodpecker, M. carolinus , of eastern North America.
1884
Centurus ... Zebra Woodpeckers . E. Coues , Key to North American Birds (ed. 2) iii. 487 (heading)
1937
‘Zebra woodpecker ’ is a nickname for the Red-bellied Woodpecker ..of the eastern United States. T. G. Pearson in G. H. Grosvenor & A. Wetmore, Book of Birds vol. II. 70 (caption)
2009
Also known as the ‘zebra’ woodpecker , this noisy bird is the only bar-backed woodpecker with an entirely red crown. K. C. Bender , Texas Wildscapes vi. 63/1
▶ more ▼ less = great spotted woodpecker , n.
A common Eurasian woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor , having predominantly white and black plumage and (in the male) a scarlet crown; also called barred …
Any of several woodpeckers with black and white spotted plumage; (now) spec. a member of the Eurasian genus Dendrocopos , esp. the common D. major ; =…
A common Eurasian woodpecker, Dendrocopos major , with predominantly black and white plumage; also called greater spotted woodpecker , pied woodpecker .
Any of various woodpeckers with predominantly black plumage; esp. (a) the large Dryocopus martius of northern Eurasia (also called great black woodp …
A small North American woodpecker, Dendrocopos pubescens , with black and white plumage and, in the male, a red patch on the back of the head.
A species of woodpecker, Picus or Campephilus principalis : cf. ivory-billed , adj.
Any of various other birds with a red or reddish head, or red markings on the head; esp. (a) British regional the pochard, Aythya ferina ; (b) Nort …
In full Gila woodpecker . A woodpecker native to desert regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico, Melanerpes uropygialis , having…
Any of several American woodpeckers of the genus Melanerpes , having black and white barring on the back and wings; spec. the red-bellied woodpecker…
Originally published as part of the entry for zebra, n.
zebra, n. was revised in June 2018.
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