Arizona woodpecker Patch#

They are best identified by the lack of red on their heads and the heavier barring and spotting on their breasts.įemale Arizona Woodpeckers also tend to forage on tree limbs and branches more often than tree trunks, using their smaller bills to flake away bark rather than pierce into the wood. Femalesįemale Arizona Woodpeckers are slightly smaller than males and have shorter bills, though these characteristics may be hard to discern in the field. Males are also more likely to forage on tree trunks than females as their larger bills are more effective at stripping bark. But by far the easiest way to identify a male is by the red spot on the back of his head.

Arizona woodpecker Patch#

MalesĪdult male Arizona Woodpeckers are slightly larger overall, have longer bills, and have a larger white patch on their necks. Both males and females have brown stripes and markings and white patches on their faces and crowns. Their underparts are white and marked with large brown spots and bars. In addition, they have solid brown backs – truly unusual among woodpeckers, which are typically black and white. They are stocky birds with hefty bills and relatively short tails for their size. AdultsĪdult Arizona Woodpeckers are about 7 to 8 inches long head to tail. With their unusual brown and white plumage, Arizona Woodpeckers are practically unmistakable, though they can be confused for their cousin, the Strickland’s Woodpecker, in Mexico. Genus: Leuconotopicus (some taxonomists place the species in Dryobates and Picoides).

There are currently six species in the genus Leuconotopicus: the Arizona Woodpecker, Strickland’s Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and White-headed Woodpecker.

In Ancient Greek, the genus name Leuconotopicus translates to “white-backed woodpecker” – which, oddly enough, fails to accurately describe most of its members, though all do feature some prominent white markings. Different taxonomists have placed the species in Picoides, Dryobates, and Leuconotopicus, with the latter currently being the most accepted classification. The Arizona Woodpecker is classified within the tribe Melanerpini, which contains 13 genera – though which genus the species falls under is still under some debate. The subfamily Picinae includes 204 species in its 33 genera and is further divided into six tribes. The majority live in woodland habitats, though a few species can be found in desert, grassland, and tundra environments. They can be found across North and South America, Eurasia, and Africa, with most species occurring in the tropical forests of the New World. Most woodpeckers feature dramatic black-and-white plumage marked by small areas of red or yellow and fly in a characteristic undulating pattern in which they dip and rise with intermittent wingbeats. This is another adaption for climbing vertical trees and clinging to branches while feeding. Woodpeckers also have zygodactyl feet, in which two toes point forward and two (or in some species three) point backward. Picidae is further classified into four subfamilies: the Jynginae (wrynecks), Pucumninae (piculets), Sasiinae (African piculets), and Picinae (sapsuckers and woodpeckers).Īlso known as the true woodpeckers, birds of the order’s largest subfamily, Picinae, are identified by their chisel-shaped bills, stiff tail feathers, short legs, powerful feet and claws, sticky barbed tongues, and specialized skull and neck anatomy that allow for great impact absorption – all modifications for climbing trees and extracting sap or insect larvae from within wood. Keep reading to learn about the characteristics, habitats, and behaviors of these unique and secretive woodpeckers! TaxonomyĪrizona Woodpeckers are one of around 240 currently described species in the family Picidae, which includes all of the world’s woodpeckers, sapsuckers, piculets, and wrynecks in its 35 genera. While finding one can be challenging, knowing where to look – and, more importantly, what to listen for – can lead you to these fascinating and under-observed birds. In the woodpecker world, they are unusual for their chocolate-brown and white plumage. Unlike their rowdier counterparts, these medium-sized woodpeckers are somewhat quiet and elusive, especially outside of the breeding season.Īrizona Woodpeckers prefer life at middle elevations in the oak and pine-oak woodland foothills of Arizona, New Mexico, and central Mexico. The Arizona Woodpecker is aptly named, as, if you are living in North America, that’s where you are most likely to see one – if you even see one at all. Red-breasted Sapsucker Guide (Sphyrapicus ruber) - February 27, 2023.Iconic Birds of New Mexico Guide - September 13, 2023.Common Woodpeckers in Missouri Guide - September 13, 2023.