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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Length 20-25cm, wingspan 38-46cm<br /> | Length 20-25cm, wingspan 38-46cm<br /> | ||
− | Light brown breast and | + | Light brown breast, head and most of underparts, with back, wings and undertail coverts blackish with thin white bars. Crown is red on adult male, lacking in female. |
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====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
[[Image:Gila_Woodpecker_(F)UncleGus_24.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|UncleGus_24|UncleGus_24}}<br />Green Valley, [[Arizona]], [[USA]], March 2012]] | [[Image:Gila_Woodpecker_(F)UncleGus_24.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|UncleGus_24|UncleGus_24}}<br />Green Valley, [[Arizona]], [[USA]], March 2012]] | ||
− | Very similar in appearance to [[Golden-fronted Woodpecker]], but distinguished by barred tail and range. | + | Very similar in appearance to [[Golden-fronted Woodpecker]], but distinguished by barred tail and not overlapping on range. |
− | + | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
A woodpecker primarily of the Sonoran desert. South-eastern [[California]], where numbers are decreasing; southern [[Arizona]] southward into western [[Mexico]], including Baja California. | A woodpecker primarily of the Sonoran desert. South-eastern [[California]], where numbers are decreasing; southern [[Arizona]] southward into western [[Mexico]], including Baja California. | ||
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{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
+ | Search the Gallery using the scientific name: | ||
{{GSearch|Melanerpes+uropygialis}} | {{GSearch|Melanerpes+uropygialis}} | ||
+ | Search the Gallery using the common name: | ||
+ | {{GSearch|"Gila Woodpecker"}} | ||
+ | {{GS-checked}} | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanerpes]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanerpes]] |
Latest revision as of 00:43, 3 September 2022
- Melanerpes uropygialis
Identification
Length 20-25cm, wingspan 38-46cm
Light brown breast, head and most of underparts, with back, wings and undertail coverts blackish with thin white bars. Crown is red on adult male, lacking in female.
Similar Species
Very similar in appearance to Golden-fronted Woodpecker, but distinguished by barred tail and not overlapping on range.
Distribution
A woodpecker primarily of the Sonoran desert. South-eastern California, where numbers are decreasing; southern Arizona southward into western Mexico, including Baja California.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized:[1]
- M. u. uropygialis:
- M. u. cardonensis:
- Northern Baja California
- M. u. brewsteri:
- Southern Baja California
Habitat
Dry areas with scattered mesquite trees and saguaro cacti.
Behaviour
Noisy and conspicious.
Breeding
Monogomous, in partnership throughout the year.
Solitary nester; both sexes excavate the hole for the nest. Two, or maybe, three broods each year.
Diet
Primarily insectivorous; will visit feeders (meat, suet, fruit).
Vocalisation
Call: loud abrasive variable calls, often a series of chürr üh-rr
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved April 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Gila Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gila_Woodpecker
External Links
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
Search the Gallery using the common name:
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.