The tale of Reddy Woodpecker

In Short

Arthur Scott Bailey’s The Tale of Reddy Woodpecker is a lighthearted children’s woodland fable following a boastful, flashy woodpecker through his seasonal exploits around Farmer Green’s homestead. Reddy drums on barn roofs, bickers over territory, brawls with robins for berries, and spars with local critters from Cuffy Bear to Frisky Squirrel. First published in 1922, the book has lasted because of its gentle humor, lively animal personalities, and timeless depiction of childhood squabbles played out in nature.

The Story

The quiet rhythm of Pleasant Valley is disrupted when Mrs. Robin spots a handsome but noisy stranger in the orchard: Reddy Woodpecker, dressed in a flashy suit of steel blue and white topped with a brilliant red cap. Bold, loud, and thoroughly self-important, Reddy quickly establishes himself as the orchard's resident troublemaker. He claims a patch of tin on Farmer Green’s barn roof as his personal drum kit to beat his morning tattoos, and he browbeats smaller birds like the mild-mannered Mr. Chippy.

When his cousin Mr. Flicker—a larger bird with a black mustache and a hundred and twenty-four regional names—tries to share the barn tin, Reddy grows furiously jealous. Meanwhile, Mrs. Robin fears Reddy will steal her nestlings and becomes frantic when Reddy starts devouring the ripe raspberries intended for her brood. She forces her long-suffering husband, Jolly Robin, to confront the newcomer. Jolly's attempts to drive Reddy away end in comedy: after recruiting neighbor robins for a fight, they all end up eating berries together and striking a clumsy truce.

Reddy’s grandiosity continues as he attempts to recruit members for his exclusive club, "The Redcaps," refusing entry to anyone without red headgear. Old Mr. Crow tries to trick Reddy into accepting a Red-winged Blackbird, leading to a comedic showdown where Reddy enforces strict club rules until the blackbird resigns. Seeking new food sources, Reddy goes hunting for grubs with Cuffy Bear, but Cuffy’s bottomless appetite leaves Reddy with almost nothing to eat while Cuffy calls him greedy. Later, Reddy visits Ferdinand Frog, a quirky amphibious tailor who insults Reddy’s four-toed feet and bright colors while admitting he only wants Reddy standing outside to make his shop look busy.

As autumn arrives, the narrative shifts to the beech grove. Frisky Squirrel tries to intimidate Reddy to keep all the sweet beechnuts for himself, chasing the bird relentlessly. Unbothered, Reddy dodges every pounce with ease. When the nuts ripen, Jasper Jay and Johnnie Green join the harvest, creating a scramble among all the woodland residents. Reddy systematically hides beechnuts under tree bark and in hollow stumps to prepare for the cold months ahead. Having secured his winter store, Reddy remains right where he is, content to spend the cold season frustrating Frisky Squirrel and enjoying the fruits of his busy summer.

How It Unfolds

A flashy newcomer arrives Mrs. Robin spreads word of a dashing stranger in a brilliant red cap, rousing the curiosity and jealousy of the orchard birds. Reddy introduces himself boldly, intimidating little Mr. Chippy and instantly arguing with old Mr. Crow and Mr. Catbird.

Battles over the barn tin Reddy claims Farmer Green’s tin roof patch for his morning drumming, only to find his large cousin, Mr. Flicker, beating him to it. Fearful of losing his prized drumming spot, Reddy tries every trick to nudge his cousin away without risking a physical fight.

The raspberry patch war Mrs. Robin panics over her nestlings' safety and sends Jolly Robin to defend the local berry patch from Reddy's appetite. Jolly recruits a squad of robins, but the group succumbs to the sweet fruit, ultimately leaving Jolly and Reddy to share the harvest.

Forming the Redcaps Determined to prove his importance, Reddy forms an exclusive club called The Redcaps, open only to birds with red headgear. Mr. Crow tries to sneak a Red-winged Blackbird into the roster, but Reddy exposes the trick when he realizes the red patch is on the bird's shoulder, not its head.

Grub hunting with Cuffy Bear Cuffy Bear invites Reddy on a joint hunt for grubs, but Cuffy’s massive size and speed allow him to devour every log they rip open. Reddy accidentally swallows a few grubs intended for the bear, prompting a noisy fallout between the two hunters.

The odd tailor by the creek Reddy visits Ferdinand Frog, a eccentric tailor who critiques Reddy's unusual toe structure and flashy feathers. Reddy realizes too late that the frog is merely using him as a fake customer to attract real business to his shop.

Hoarding for the winter Frisky Squirrel tries to scare Reddy out of Pleasant Valley to save the autumn beechnut harvest for himself. Reddy easily dodges Frisky’s attacks, stashing nuts in bark crevices and securing enough food to stay through the winter.

The People

• Reddy Woodpecker: The central figure, a boastful and loud bird who wants the best drumming spots, all the ripe berries, and top status in the valley. His stubbornness and self-confidence keep him from ever feeling bullied, allowing him to stay right where he pleases.
• Jolly Robin: A mild-tempered, patient husband who wants nothing more than peace and a quiet chat with his meadow friends. Caught between his frantic wife's demands and Reddy's bold presence, he repeatedly seeks peaceful compromises.
• Mrs. Robin: An anxious mother bird driven by fear for her eggs and nestlings. Her deep distrust of Reddy pushes her husband into absurd confrontations over the local fruit supply.
• Mr. Flicker: Reddy's easygoing, polite cousin who boasts 124 names and a striking black mustache. He innocently infuriates Reddy by drumming on the barn tin and eating ants in the pasture.
• Mr. Crow: An old, inquisitive instigator who loves to snoop, squawk news across the valley, and test Reddy's patience through sly tricks.
• Cuffy Bear: A huge, single-minded woodland creature with an enormous appetite who expects everyone to accommodate his hunger for grubs.
• Frisky Squirrel: A territorial, quick-tempered gatherer determined to hoard every beechnut in the forest, spending his summer fruitlessly trying to catch the nimble Reddy napping.

In Its Own Voice

"He was somewhat noisy," she explained. "And I fear he may be quarrelsome. But his clothes certainly were beautiful." — Mrs. Robin introduces the dashing new arrival to her orchard neighbors.

"I haven't had a real customer this season," he added somewhat sadly. "So you can't blame me if I want people to think I have one at last--now can you?" — Ferdinand Frog explains why he tricked Reddy into posing outside his tailor shop.

"A quarrel!" he bawled. "A quarrel over beechnuts! I must do what I can to stop it. I'll gather as many beechnuts as I can; because when they're all gone there won't be anything to quarrel about." — Jasper Jay offers his uniquely selfish solution to the forest's autumn dispute.

What It's Really About

Beneath its playful animal antics, The Tale of Reddy Woodpecker explores the tension between individual vanity and community living. Reddy arrives full of self-importance, claiming public property like Farmer Green's barn tin or the wild raspberry patch as his own. His neighbors react with gossip, suspicion, and petty territorial rivalries. Yet the story demonstrates how a community absorbs difficult, selfish personalities not through dramatic conflict, but through daily adaptation and shared resources. Whether it is birds dividing up a berry crop or critters gathering winter nuts, the valley shows that there is usually enough room—and enough food—for everyone, even the most loudmouthed neighbor.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers looking for a charming, nostalgic read-aloud will enjoy Arthur Scott Bailey's light, episodic storytelling. The book moves at a lively pace, filled with expressive character interactions and gentle visual humor—from a frog critiquing a bird's toes to a bear complaining that a single grub is a full meal.

As a text from 1922, readers should expect a slightly formal, old-fashioned cadence in the dialogue, along with classic anthropomorphic tropes of early 20th-century children's literature. The characters speak with polished manners even while arguing, which gives the story a whimsical, vintage quality. It is a short, accessible work that captures the quiet magic of eastern American woodlands, offering a cozy look at nature through the eyes of its most spirited feathered inhabitant.