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Gila Woodpecker

Melanerpes uropygialisOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Gila Woodpecker Portrait
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Range Map for Gila Woodpecker

Overview

Gila Woodpecker: Medium woodpecker, black-and-white barred upperparts and central tail feathers, buff-gray neck and underparts. Buff-gray head has a small red cap. Wings have large white patches visible in flight. Its abandoned nesting and roost holes provide shelter for birds, mammals and reptiles.

Range and Habitat

Gila Woodpecker: Resident in southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Preferred habitats include low desert scrub with saguaro or mesquite trees for nesting.

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Voice Text

"churrrrrrr"

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Related Birds:

Northern Flicker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Gilded Flicker
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
.

Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Melanerpes uropygialis
Length8 - 10 Inches
Wingspan16.5 Inches

Gila Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker: Medium woodpecker, black-and-white barred upperparts and central tail feathers, buff-gray neck and underparts. Buff-gray head has a small red cap. Wings have large white patches visible in flight. Its abandoned nesting and roost holes provide shelter for birds, mammals and reptiles.

● Song: "churrrrrrr"

● Foraging & Feeding: Gila Woodpecker: Eats insects, bird eggs, fruits, and berries.

● Breeding & nesting: Gila Woodpecker: Three to five white eggs are laid in a hole in a giant saguaro cactus or tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Gila Woodpecker: Red-bellied Woodpecker (both parents) has extensive red on the head and nape, and paler underparts. Golden-fronted Woodpecker shows yellow on head, is paler below, and has dark, unmarked, central tail feathers.

Flight Pattern

Undulating flight.
Gila Woodpecker Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Gila Woodpecker: Resident in southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Preferred habitats include low desert scrub with saguaro or mesquite trees for nesting.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationDeclining
MigrationSome migrate
Weight2.5 Ounces