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Gila woodpecker

The Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico. In the U.S., they range through southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Gila woodpecker
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species:
M. uropygialis
Binomial name
Melanerpes uropygialis
(Baird, 1854)
Distribution (green)

Description edit

 
On saguaro cactus next to nesting hole

The back and wings of this bird are spotted and barred with a black and white zebra-like pattern. The neck, throat, belly and head are greyish-tan in color. The male has a small red cap on the top of the head. Females and juveniles are similar, but both lack the red cap of the adult male. White wing patches are prominent in flight. The dark tail has white bars on the central tail feathers. The birds range from 8–10 in (20–25 cm) in length.

This woodpecker's voice is a rolling churr sound. It also makes a yip yip yip sound and a kee-u, kee-u, kee-u sound. Its drum is long and steady.

Distribution & habitat edit

This woodpecker's habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran Desert, as well as arroyos (washes) and small towns.[2]

Behavior and ecology edit

Breeding edit

They build nests in holes made in saguaro cacti[3] or mesquite trees. Cavities excavated by these woodpeckers in saguaro cacti (known as a "boot"[4]) are later used by a variety of other species, including the elf owl.[5] There, they typically lay 3–4 white eggs, although as many as 6[6] or 7[7] have been noted. 2–3 broods are laid a year. Both sexes incubate and feed offspring.[6]

Feeding edit

As a woodpecker, its diet is composed greatly of insects, which it gains from drilling into bark.[7] Gila woodpeckers are omnivorous, and do take fruits, nectar, seeds, as well as lizards, eggs, worms, and even young chicks of small birds.[6] They are even known to hang on human placed hummingbird feeders and sip up the nectar.[4]

Status edit

The IUCN rates the species as least concern.[8] It is an endangered species in California, where populations have suffered notably. Arizona populations remain strong. The effects of climate change could severely reduce available habitat.[9]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Melanerpes uropygialis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680853A92882402. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680853A92882402.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Gila Woodpecker Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  3. ^ Mark Elbroch; Eleanor Marie Marks; C. Diane Boretos (2001). Bird tracks and sign. Stackpole Books. p. 311. ISBN 0-8117-2696-7. Cavities in saguaro cactuses in the Southwest are common. Both gilded flickers and Gila woodpeckers make these cavities for nesting, but they often choose different locations on the cactus.
  4. ^ a b "Gila Woodpecker Fact Sheet". www.desertmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  5. ^ . Nature Conservancy. Archived from the original on 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2011-10-28. Although they do not use them immediately, waiting first for the sap to harden, Gila Woodpeckers excavate cavities in cacti and trees as nesting sites.
  6. ^ a b c "Gila Woodpecker". Audubon. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  7. ^ a b "Gila Woodpecker Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  8. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  9. ^ "Gila Woodpecker". The Audubon Birds & Climate Change Report. 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  • Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S.; Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc. (1966).

External links edit

  • This Woodpecker Will Drill Into Your Skull And Eat Your Brains—If You’re a Baby Dove
  • "Gila woodpecker media". Internet Bird Collection.
  • Gila woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
  • Interactive range map of Melanerpes uropygialis at IUCN Red List maps


gila, woodpecker, melanerpes, uropygialis, medium, sized, woodpecker, desert, regions, southwestern, united, states, western, mexico, they, range, through, southeastern, california, southern, nevada, arizona, mexico, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, s. The Gila woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis is a medium sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico In the U S they range through southeastern California southern Nevada Arizona and New Mexico Gila woodpeckerConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PiciformesFamily PicidaeGenus MelanerpesSpecies M uropygialisBinomial nameMelanerpes uropygialis Baird 1854 Distribution green Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution amp habitat 3 Behavior and ecology 3 1 Breeding 3 2 Feeding 4 Status 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp On saguaro cactus next to nesting holeThe back and wings of this bird are spotted and barred with a black and white zebra like pattern The neck throat belly and head are greyish tan in color The male has a small red cap on the top of the head Females and juveniles are similar but both lack the red cap of the adult male White wing patches are prominent in flight The dark tail has white bars on the central tail feathers The birds range from 8 10 in 20 25 cm in length This woodpecker s voice is a rolling churr sound It also makes a yip yip yip sound and a kee u kee u kee u sound Its drum is long and steady Distribution amp habitat editThis woodpecker s habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran Desert as well as arroyos washes and small towns 2 Behavior and ecology editBreeding edit They build nests in holes made in saguaro cacti 3 or mesquite trees Cavities excavated by these woodpeckers in saguaro cacti known as a boot 4 are later used by a variety of other species including the elf owl 5 There they typically lay 3 4 white eggs although as many as 6 6 or 7 7 have been noted 2 3 broods are laid a year Both sexes incubate and feed offspring 6 Feeding edit As a woodpecker its diet is composed greatly of insects which it gains from drilling into bark 7 Gila woodpeckers are omnivorous and do take fruits nectar seeds as well as lizards eggs worms and even young chicks of small birds 6 They are even known to hang on human placed hummingbird feeders and sip up the nectar 4 Status editThe IUCN rates the species as least concern 8 It is an endangered species in California where populations have suffered notably Arizona populations remain strong The effects of climate change could severely reduce available habitat 9 Gallery edit nbsp Female Gila Woodpecker Paradise Valley AZ nbsp In Hermosillo Sonora Mexico nbsp A Gila woodpecker drinking water nbsp Male seeks nectar from a Saguaro flowerReferences edit BirdLife International 2016 Melanerpes uropygialis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22680853A92882402 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22680853A92882402 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Gila Woodpecker Overview All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology www allaboutbirds org Retrieved 2020 12 30 Mark Elbroch Eleanor Marie Marks C Diane Boretos 2001 Bird tracks and sign Stackpole Books p 311 ISBN 0 8117 2696 7 Cavities in saguaro cactuses in the Southwest are common Both gilded flickers and Gila woodpeckers make these cavities for nesting but they often choose different locations on the cactus a b Gila Woodpecker Fact Sheet www desertmuseum org Retrieved 2019 02 22 Gila Woodpecker Nature Conservancy Archived from the original on 2016 12 15 Retrieved 2011 10 28 Although they do not use them immediately waiting first for the sap to harden Gila Woodpeckers excavate cavities in cacti and trees as nesting sites a b c Gila Woodpecker Audubon 2014 11 13 Retrieved 2019 02 22 a b Gila Woodpecker Life History All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology www allaboutbirds org Retrieved 2019 02 22 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Retrieved 2019 02 22 Gila Woodpecker The Audubon Birds amp Climate Change Report 2014 08 26 Retrieved 2019 02 22 Robbins C S Bruun B Zim H S Birds of North America New York Western Publishing Company Inc 1966 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gila woodpecker nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Melanerpes uropygialis The Nature Conservancy s Species Profile Gila Woodpecker This Woodpecker Will Drill Into Your Skull And Eat Your Brains If You re a Baby Dove Gila woodpecker media Internet Bird Collection Gila woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Interactive range map of Melanerpes uropygialis at IUCN Red List maps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gila woodpecker amp oldid 1153418389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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