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Golden-fronted woodpecker

January 31, 2023

The golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in the southern United States and Mexico.[2]

Golden-fronted woodpecker
A male from the northern subspecies group at Roma, Texas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species:
M. aurifrons
Binomial name
Melanerpes aurifrons
(Wagler, 1829)
Range of golden-fronted and Velasquez's woodpeckers

Taxonomy and systematics

The golden-fronted woodpecker's taxonomy has not been settled. The American Ornithological Society, the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) assign it 12 subspecies. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) treats it as a monotypic species, and assigns the other 11 subspecies to Velasquez's woodpecker (Melanerpes santacruzi).[2][3][4][5][6]

This article follows the IOC monotypic-species model.

 
Male in flight, Texas

Description

The golden-fronted woodpecker is 22 to 26 cm (8.7 to 10 in) long and weighs 65 to 102 g (2.3 to 3.6 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except for the pattern on their heads. Adult males have a red crown and a golden orange to yellow nape with a gap between them; females have a grayish crown and a paler yellow nape. On adults of both sexes the rest of the head is various shades of gray. Their upperparts are mostly barred black and white, with white uppertail coverts that have a few black spots. Their flight feathers are black with variable amounts of white on the primaries. Their tail is mostly black with variable amounts of white on the outermost three pairs of feathers. Their underparts are smoke gray to drab gray with light blackish bars on the flanks and undertail coverts and a yellow patch on the belly. Their iris is deep red to reddish brown, their bill is black to grayish black, and their legs and feet are grayish green to greenish gray. Juveniles are duller overall than adults, with little or no orange on the nape, indistinct barring on the upperparts, and fine dusky streaks on the underparts. Males have a small red crown patch and females just a few red feathers there.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The golden-fronted woodpecker is found from southwestern Oklahoma through central Texas onto the Mexican Plateau as far as Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, and Hidalgo. It is a casual visitor to New Mexico and has strayed further north and east. It inhabits both mesic and xeric landscapes. It favors the latter, which include mesquite brushlands and riparian woodlands. It also frequents urban parks and suburban areas.[7][8]

Behavior

Movement

The golden-fronted woodpecker is a year-round resident throughout its range.[7]

Feeding

The golden-fronted woodpecker's diet is adult and larval arthropods, some aerial insects, much fruit and nuts, and corn. It has been observed predating other birds' eggs. The species forages mainly in trees, especially on major limbs and typically below 6 m (20 ft). It also forages on open or grassy ground but seldom under brush. It takes its food by gleaning, pecking, probing, and least frequently by aerial flycatching.[7]

Breeding

The golden-fronted woodpecker usually remains paired year-round, and is territorial even outside the nesting season. In Texas it breeds between March and July, and often produces two broods per year. Both sexes excavate the nest cavity in the trunk or limb of a tree, both live and dead. It also sometimes uses utility poles, fence posts, and nest boxes. The cavity is usually between 2 and 9 m (7 and 30 ft) above the ground. Most clutches are of four or five eggs, and both sexes incubate. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days and fledging occurs about 30 days after hatch.[7]

 

Songs and calls
Listen to golden-fronted woodpecker sensu lato on xeno-canto

Vocal and non-vocal sounds

The golden-fronted woodpecker's call is "a loud harsh kirrr or a hard tig tig" that is often repeated in a series. Its drumming is "short and relatively slow".[9]

Status

The IUCN follows HBW taxonomy and so has not assessed the golden-fronted woodpecker separately from Velasquez's woodpecker. The golden-fronted woodpecker sensu lato is considered to be of Least Concern, with a stable population.[1] It is considered common in much of Texas; population data from Mexico is sparse. It "appears to adjust well to human-altered environments, occupying parks and urban areas."[7]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680862A92883010. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680862A92883010.en. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "Woodpeckers". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. ^ Chesser, R.T.; Banks, R.C.; Barker, F.K.; Cicero, C.; Dunn, J.L.; Kratter, A.W.; Lovette, I.J.; Rasmussen, P.C.; Remsen, J.V.J.; Rising, J.D.; Stotz, D.F.; Winker, K. (2013). "Fifty-Fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds". The Auk. 130 (3): 11.
  4. ^ Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved November 10, 2022
  5. ^ HBW and BirdLife International (2022) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip retrieved December 13, 2022
  6. ^ García-Trejo, E. A.; De Los Monteros, A. E.; Arizmendi, M. D. C.; Navarro-Sigüenza, A. G. (2009). "Molecular Systematics of the Red-Bellied and Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers". The Condor. 111 (3): 442. doi:10.1525/cond.2009.080017. S2CID 84280533.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Husak, M. S. and T. C. Maxwell (2020). Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.gofwoo.01 retrieved January 20, 2023
  8. ^ Check-list of North American Birds (7th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. pp. 335–336.
  9. ^ Sibley, David Allen (2003). Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. Sibley Field Guides. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 247. ISBN 0-679-45120-X.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melanerpes aurifrons.
  • , a bibliographic resource
  • Golden-fronted woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)

Further reading

  • Selander, R.K.; Giller, D.R. (1963). "Species limits in the woodpecker genus Centurus (Aves)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 124: 213–273.

January 31, 2023
golden, fronted, woodpecker, golden, fronted, woodpecker, melanerpes, aurifrons, species, bird, subfamily, picinae, woodpecker, family, picidae, found, southern, united, states, mexico, male, from, northern, subspecies, group, roma, texasconservation, statusle. The golden fronted woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae It is found in the southern United States and Mexico 2 Golden fronted woodpeckerA male from the northern subspecies group at Roma TexasConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PiciformesFamily PicidaeGenus MelanerpesSpecies M aurifronsBinomial nameMelanerpes aurifrons Wagler 1829 Range of golden fronted and Velasquez s woodpeckers Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behavior 4 1 Movement 4 2 Feeding 4 3 Breeding 4 4 Vocal and non vocal sounds 5 Status 6 References 7 External links 8 Further readingTaxonomy and systematics EditThe golden fronted woodpecker s taxonomy has not been settled The American Ornithological Society the Clements taxonomy and BirdLife International s Handbook of the Birds of the World HBW assign it 12 subspecies The International Ornithological Committee IOC treats it as a monotypic species and assigns the other 11 subspecies to Velasquez s woodpecker Melanerpes santacruzi 2 3 4 5 6 This article follows the IOC monotypic species model Male in flight TexasDescription EditThe golden fronted woodpecker is 22 to 26 cm 8 7 to 10 in long and weighs 65 to 102 g 2 3 to 3 6 oz Males and females have the same plumage except for the pattern on their heads Adult males have a red crown and a golden orange to yellow nape with a gap between them females have a grayish crown and a paler yellow nape On adults of both sexes the rest of the head is various shades of gray Their upperparts are mostly barred black and white with white uppertail coverts that have a few black spots Their flight feathers are black with variable amounts of white on the primaries Their tail is mostly black with variable amounts of white on the outermost three pairs of feathers Their underparts are smoke gray to drab gray with light blackish bars on the flanks and undertail coverts and a yellow patch on the belly Their iris is deep red to reddish brown their bill is black to grayish black and their legs and feet are grayish green to greenish gray Juveniles are duller overall than adults with little or no orange on the nape indistinct barring on the upperparts and fine dusky streaks on the underparts Males have a small red crown patch and females just a few red feathers there 7 Distribution and habitat EditThe golden fronted woodpecker is found from southwestern Oklahoma through central Texas onto the Mexican Plateau as far as Jalisco San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo It is a casual visitor to New Mexico and has strayed further north and east It inhabits both mesic and xeric landscapes It favors the latter which include mesquite brushlands and riparian woodlands It also frequents urban parks and suburban areas 7 8 Behavior EditMovement Edit The golden fronted woodpecker is a year round resident throughout its range 7 Feeding Edit The golden fronted woodpecker s diet is adult and larval arthropods some aerial insects much fruit and nuts and corn It has been observed predating other birds eggs The species forages mainly in trees especially on major limbs and typically below 6 m 20 ft It also forages on open or grassy ground but seldom under brush It takes its food by gleaning pecking probing and least frequently by aerial flycatching 7 Breeding Edit The golden fronted woodpecker usually remains paired year round and is territorial even outside the nesting season In Texas it breeds between March and July and often produces two broods per year Both sexes excavate the nest cavity in the trunk or limb of a tree both live and dead It also sometimes uses utility poles fence posts and nest boxes The cavity is usually between 2 and 9 m 7 and 30 ft above the ground Most clutches are of four or five eggs and both sexes incubate The incubation period is 12 to 14 days and fledging occurs about 30 days after hatch 7 Songs and callsListen to golden fronted woodpeckersensu lato on xeno canto Vocal and non vocal sounds Edit The golden fronted woodpecker s call is a loud harsh kirrr or a hard tig tig that is often repeated in a series Its drumming is short and relatively slow 9 Status EditThe IUCN follows HBW taxonomy and so has not assessed the golden fronted woodpecker separately from Velasquez s woodpecker The golden fronted woodpecker sensu lato is considered to be of Least Concern with a stable population 1 It is considered common in much of Texas population data from Mexico is sparse It appears to adjust well to human altered environments occupying parks and urban areas 7 From the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey c 1850References Edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Golden fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22680862A92883010 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22680862A92883010 en Retrieved 20 January 2023 a b Gill F Donsker D Rasmussen P eds August 2022 Woodpeckers IOC World Bird List v 12 2 Retrieved 9 January 2023 Chesser R T Banks R C Barker F K Cicero C Dunn J L Kratter A W Lovette I J Rasmussen P C Remsen J V J Rising J D Stotz D F Winker K 2013 Fifty Fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists Union Check list of North American Birds The Auk 130 3 11 Clements J F T S Schulenberg M J Iliff T A Fredericks J A Gerbracht D Lepage S M Billerman B L Sullivan and C L Wood 2022 The eBird Clements checklist of birds of the world v2022 Downloaded from https www birds cornell edu clementschecklist download retrieved November 10 2022 HBW and BirdLife International 2022 Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world Version 7 Available at http datazone birdlife org userfiles file Species Taxonomy HBW BirdLife Checklist v7 Dec22 zip retrieved December 13 2022 Garcia Trejo E A De Los Monteros A E Arizmendi M D C Navarro Siguenza A G 2009 Molecular Systematics of the Red Bellied and Golden Fronted Woodpeckers The Condor 111 3 442 doi 10 1525 cond 2009 080017 S2CID 84280533 a b c d e f Husak M S and T C Maxwell 2020 Golden fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons version 1 0 In Birds of the World A F Poole and F B Gill Editors Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca NY USA https doi org 10 2173 bow gofwoo 01 retrieved January 20 2023 Check list of North American Birds 7th ed Washington D C American Ornithologists Union 1998 pp 335 336 Sibley David Allen 2003 Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America Sibley Field Guides New York Alfred A Knopf p 247 ISBN 0 679 45120 X External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melanerpes aurifrons Golden fronted woodpecker a bibliographic resource Golden fronted woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Further reading EditSelander R K Giller D R 1963 Species limits in the woodpecker genus Centurus Aves Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 124 213 273 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Golden fronted woodpecker amp oldid 1134772277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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