- Gila Woodpecker
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Gila Woodpecker 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Genus: Melanerpes Species: M. uropygialis Binomial name Melanerpes uropygialis
(Baird, 1854)The Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States. They range through southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
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Contents
Habitat
This woodpecker's habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran desert. They build nests in holes made in saguaro cacti[1] or mesquite trees. Cavities excavated by these woodpeckers in saguaro cacti are later used by a variety of other species, including the Elf Owl.[2] There, they typically lay 3-5 white eggs.
Description
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. They 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.
Trivia
- The Gila woodpecker makes its home wherever one is available. It does seem to prefer houses and saguaro cacti.
References
- ^ Mark Elbroch; Eleanor Marie Marks, C. Diane Boretos (2001). Bird tracks and sign. Stackpole Books. p. 311. ISBN 0811726967. http://books.google.com/books?id=1avqcmYRwrcC. "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."
- ^ "Gila Woodpecker". Nature Conservancy. http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/birds/gila-woodpecker.xml. 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."
- BirdLife International (2004). Melanerpes uropygialis. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- "Melanerpes uropygialis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=178198. Retrieved 9 February 2006.
- Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S.; Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc. (1966).
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Woodpeckers
- Melanerpes
- Endemic birds of Southwestern North America
- Fauna of the Sonoran Desert
- Native birds of the Southwestern United States
- Fauna of the Lower Colorado River Valley
- Fauna of the Yuma Desert
- Birds of Mexico
- Birds of Baja Peninsula Mexico
- Native birds of Western Mexico
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