The guide to the Woodpeckers of the Southwest Region of North America includes the seventeen (17) species of woodpeckers, flickers, and sapsuckers known to occur in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. This comprehensive guide features detailed species accounts with information on identification, habitat, range, behavior, food, nesting, breeding, lifespan, population status, and conservation concerns. The accounts are accompanied by custom-made ID images, making it a valuable resource for both novice and experienced bird enthusiasts.
- Key Habitat Types and Woodpecker Diversity in the Southwest Region
- Woodpecker, Sapsucker, and Flickers
- Woodpecker of the Southwest Region (Seventeen (17) Species)
- Acorn Woodpecker
- Lewis's Woodpecker
- Gila Woodpecker
- Williamson's Sapsucker
- Red-Breasted Sapsucker
- Red-naped Sapsucker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Arizona Woodpecker
- Nuttall's Woodpecker
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker
- American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Black-Backed Woodpecker
- White-headed Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Gilded Flicker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Ecological role of Woodpeckers in the Ecosystems of the Southwest Region
- Adaptation to Disturbances
- Woodpecker-Human Interactions in the Southwest
- Threats to Woodpeckers in the Southwest Region

Key Habitat Types and Woodpecker Diversity in the Southwest Region
The Southwest Region of North America boasts a remarkable diversity of woodpeckers, with up to 17 species found across CA, NV, UT, CO, NM, and AZ. This diversity is closely tied to the region’s varied habitats, including:
- Mediterranean California: Primarily found in California, supports the Nuttall’s Woodpecker endemic to California’s oak woodlands, Acorn Woodpeckers thrive in oak-pine woodlands, and Northern and Gilded Flickers found in open woodlands often foraging on the ground for ants.
- North American Deserts: The arid landscapes of the Southwest host specialized woodpeckers such as the Ladder-backed Woodpecker adapted to desert scrub and dry woodlands and the Gilded Flicker adapted to saguaro cactus forests/scrub in the Sonoran Desert.
- Western Forested Mountains of the Southwest support the greatest diversity of woodpeckers at various elevations. Most widespread woodpeckers inhabit part of the Western Forested Mountain. The Black-backed Woodpecker is strongly associated with recently burned forests in higher elevations, particularly in the Sierra Nevada. Lewis’s Woodpecker prefers open canopy forests with brushy understories, often found in ponderosa pine and cottonwood habitats. All three species of sapsuckers are associated with Western Mountain Forest habitats.
Woodpecker, Sapsucker, and Flickers
The seventeen (17) species featured in this guide belong to the avian family Picidae, which encompasses woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and flickers. They are classified into four groups based on their taxonomic affinities, as follows:

Melanerpini (Melanerpes) Group: Include medium size woodpeckers and sapsuckers with colorful plumages.
- Acorn Woodpecker
- Lewis’s Woodpecker
- Gila Woodpecker
- Williamson’s Sapsucker
- Red-breasted Sapsucker
- Red-naped Sapsucker
Campetherini (Picoides) Group: Small to medium-sized woodpeckers with black upperparts, often with white barring, and white underparts.
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Arizona Woodpecker
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker
- Nuttall’s Woodpecker
- Black-backed Woodpecker
- Three-toed Woodpecker
- White-headed Woodpecker
Colaptini (Colaptes) Group: Medium-sized woodpeckers with predominantly brown barred and spotted plumages with brightly colored underwings.
- Northern Flicker
- Gilded Flicker
Campephilini (Dryocopus) Group: Large woodpeckers with bold black and white plumage.
- Pileated Woodpecker
See also other Regional Guides to the Woodpeckers of North America
Woodpecker of the Southwest Region (Seventeen (17) Species)
Acorn Woodpecker

Identification: Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) have black backs, white faces, and red caps. Males have more red on their crowns than females. In flight, they display white wing patches.
Habitat: Open woodlands, including oak and pine-oak woodlands. Commonly found in mountainous areas where oak trees are present.
Range: In the Southwest Region, Acorn Woodpeckers are found on the western half of California, eastern third of Arizona, and western third of New Mexico.
Movements: Year-round resident.
Behavior: Found in family groups that cooperate to raise young, gather and store food, and guard their territory.
Food: Acorns and insects. They catch insects in mid air, store acorns in holes they drill in tree granaries.
Nest: Excavate multiple cavities in trees for nesting and roosting. Cavities are typically around 6 inches in diameter and may be 8 inches to 2 feet deep.
Breeding: Breeding months: March through late October. Clutch size: 3–6. Egg color: white. May have 1–2 broods per year. Incubation period: 11 days. Nestling period: 31days.
Lifespan: The approximate lifespan of an Acorn Woodpecker is at least 17 years and 3 months.
How many are there?: The global breeding population is estimated to be 7.5 million.
Conservation: IUCN status is Least Concern.
Lewis’s Woodpecker

Identification: Adults Lewis’s Woodpeckers (Melanerpes lewis) have a dark green back, gray collar, pink belly, and dark red face. Juveniles are similar to adults but duller.
Habitat: Woodlands, including ponderosa pine forests, burned forests. Woodlands near streams, oak-woodlands, orchards and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Range: The Lewis’s Woodpecker occurs throughout the Southwest Region, in parts, as year-round resident, as breeding visitor, or seasonal transient during migration.
Movements: Lewis’s woodpeckers are short distance migrants. They move from their wintering ground to their breeding grounds within states of the Southwest Region and elsewhere.
Behavior: Lewis’s Woodpeckers fly out to catch flying insects and return to a perch. They store acorns and nuts in trees. May form small wandering flocks during the non-breeding season in search of food.
Food: Insects, nuts, and fruits. Catches insects in midair or gleans them from branches and stores nuts in tree crevices.
Nest: Rarely excavate their own cavities, but use existing cavities or holes in dead or decaying trees.
Breeding: Breeding months: late April to July. Clutch size: 5-9. Egg color: opaque white. Incubation period: about 14 days. Nestling period: about 31 days.
Lifespan: The lifespan of Lewis’s Woodpeckers is unknown.
How many are there?: The estimated global breeding population is 82,000 individuals.
Conservation: On the Yellow Watch List due to population declines, primarily due to habitat loss (IUCN).
Gila Woodpecker

Identification: The Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is buffy brown with black and white barring on the back. The adult male has a red cap and nape.
Habitat: Found in mixed dry forest and scrub. Also favor riparian wooded corridors and mixed woodlands and urban development.
Range: The Gila Woodpecker is a year-round resident in the Southern half of Arizona and slivers of Southeast California and Southwest New Mexico.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident.
Behavior: A fairly common woodpecker within the Southwest Region where it defends territories and is aggressive to other woodpeckers.
Food:Gila Woodpeckers are omnivorous, taking a wide range of insects, fruit, and even small vertebrates. Forages in scrub, bark of trees and occasionally on the ground.
Nest: Gila woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches or trees or cactus columns, depending on the availability.
Breeding: Breeding months: from early April through August. Clutch size: 3-6 eggs. Egg Color: white. Incubation period: 13.5 days. Nestling period: 27-29 days.
Lifespan: Gila woodpeckers live at least 8 years.
How many are there?: According to Partners in Flight, the global population of Gila Woodpeckers is 1.5 million birds.
Conservation: It is considered a species of least concern.
Williamson’s Sapsucker

Identification: The male Williamson’s Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) is black with white wing patches, a yellow belly, and a red throat. Adult females are brown and white with black barring. Juveniles resemble duller versions of the adults.
Habitat: Open coniferous and mixed woodlands in mountains, especially mature forests with pine, larch, fir, Douglas-fir, and aspen, oak scrub, pinyon pine-juniper, and riparian forests.
Range: Williamson’s Sapsuckers are breeding visitors (Spring and Summer) in the mountains of Utah and Colorado, and a very small part of Northeast Nevada It is a year-round resident and nonbreeding visitor in the mountains of California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Movements: The Williamson’s Sapsuckers is a short and medium distance migrant. Some populations are year-round residents.
Behavior: Males establish territories before females arrive. Rather aggressive and territorial during the breeding period. May breed with a different partner every year.
Food: Sap and insects. Drills sap wells to obtain sap, also gleans insects from bark.
Nest: Cavity excavated in a live tree, often one with a fungal infection. The entrance hole is about 1.6 inches in diameter, and the cavity is about 3.6 inches across and 10.5 inches deep.
Breeding: Breeding months: April – August. Clutch size: 4-6. Egg color: glossy white. Incubation period: 12-14 days. Nestling period: about 32 days.
Lifespan: The lifespan of the Williamson’s Sapsucker is unknown.
How many are there?: The estimated global breeding population is 300,000.
Conservation: Considered a species of low concern (IUCN).
Red-Breasted Sapsucker

Identification: Both male and female Red-breasted Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber) have a red head and breast with a white spot between the eye and the bill. The back is mottled black and white, and the wings are black with a large vertical white patch.
Habitat: Coniferous forests of pine and hemlock. Also in old-growth and second-growth forests, orchards, and powerline rights-of-way.
Range: In the Southwest Region, the Red-breasted Sapsucker is found in most of California and along the western fifth of Western Nevada.
Movements: Mostly a year-round resident. Perform short distance movement during the breeding season (Spring & Summer).
Behavior: They drill shallow holes in trees to access sap, which they guard aggressively from other birds and mammals.
Food: Sap, insects. The Red-breasted Sapsucker uses its brush-tipped tongue to lap up sap and picks insects from bark crevices.
Nest: Excavates a cavity in dead trees or dead portions of live trees. The entrance hole is approximately 2 inches in diameter. The male excavates a new nest cavity each year.
Breeding: Breeding months: mid May through early August. Clutch size: 4-7. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 14-15 days. Nestling period: 23-28 days.
Lifespan: The oldest recorded Red-breasted Sapsucker lived to be at least 5 years old.
How many are there? Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 2.8 million individuals.
Conservation: Considered a species of low concern (IUCN).
Red-naped Sapsucker

Identification: Adult Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) are black and white with a red cap, and throat, and a white bar on the folded wing. Males have an entirely red chin, while females have a white patch on the chin.
Habitat: Prefers mixed forests composed of willow, aspen, birch, ponderosa pine, juniper, or Douglas-fir. They avoid oak or pine-oak forests during breeding but utilize them during migration and winter.
Range: Red-naped Sapsuckers are breeding visitors (Spring and Summer) in Northwest California, most of Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. During the nonbreeding season (fall and Winter) it retreats to Arizona and New Mexico.
Movements: Considered a short-distance migrant that moves between the breeding and non-breeding grounds.
Behavior: They spend a significant amount of time defending their sap wells from other sapsuckers and other bird species.
Food: Insects and tree sap. They drill rows of sap wells into tree bark to access the sap, which they then lap up with their tongues.
Nest: Excavate cavities in live or dead trees. The entrance hole is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. Males primarily excavate the cavity.
Breeding: Breeding months: April through mid August. Clutch size: 3-7 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 10 days. Nestling period: 28 days.
Lifespan: The oldest recorded Red-naped Sapsucker lived for at least 4 years and 11 months.
How many are there?: Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of Red-naped Sapsuckers to be around 2 million.
Conservation: The Red-naped Sapsucker is considered a species of Low Concern (IUCN).
Downy Woodpecker

Identification: The Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a tiny black and white woodpecker. Males have a red spot on the nape, which is missing in the female. Note the relatively short bill.
Habitat: It favors deciduous woodlands. They also forage in tall bushes and landscape plants. They are common in semi-open woodlands in urban areas.
Range: The Downy Woodpecker is a year-round resident in most of the Southwest Region. It is absent from Southern California, S. Arizona, and S. New Mexico.
Movements: It is a year-round resident woodpecker.
Behavior: Downy woodpeckers hitch acrobatically up, down, and around small branches and twigs, peeling and hammering into bark and wood for beetle larvae, ants, and other invertebrates.
Food: Downy Woodpeckers eat mainly insects that live inside the wood, as well as ants and caterpillars. Their diet also includes berries, acorns, and grains. They are frequent visitors of backyard bird feeders.
Nest: Downy woodpeckers excavate their cavities in dead wood in 1 to 3 weeks. Nest cavities are approximately 9 in deep and typically have a round entrance hole of about 1-1.5 in diameter.
Breeding season: Breeding months: early April through late July. Clutch size: 3-8 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 12 days. Nestling period: 19 days.
Lifespan: Downy woodpeckers live at least 11 years and 11 months.
How many are there?: The estimated number of downy woodpeckers in North America is 13 million.
Conservation: Considered a species of Least Concern (IUCN).
Hairy Woodpecker

Identification: The Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) has a black and white head, back, wings, and white underparts. Adult males have a red nape patch, which is missing in females. It is larger and longer-billed than the downy woodpecker.
Habitat: Hairy woodpeckers use a variety of forest types, but they tend to prefer mature forests where wood boring beetle larvae are readily found. It often concentrates in areas with many dead trees, particularly after burns. It occurs in suburban areas.
Range: The Hairy Woodpecker is a year-round resident in most of the Southwest Region. It appears to be absent from Southern California, S. Arizona, and S. New Mexico.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident species.
Behavior: Hairy woodpeckers hitch along the trunk and branches at all heights, from near the ground to tree tops. It actively drills bark and deadwood to find beetle larvae.
Food: Hairy woodpeckers feed on mostly larvae of wood boring beetles, ants, and other invertebrates. A small part of its diet includes fruit and seeds. It is a frequent visitor to backyard bird feeders.
Nest: Hairy woodpeckers excavate their cavities in dead wood. Nest cavities are approximately 10 in deep and typically have a slightly oblong entrance hole of about 2 in high and 1.5 in wide.
Breeding season: Breeding months: mid-March through late July. Clutch size: 3-6 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 13 days. Nestling period: 29 days.
Lifespan: Hairy woodpeckers live at least 15 years and 11 months.
How many are there?: The estimated number of hairy woodpeckers in North America is 8.7 million.
Conservation: Considered a species of Least Concern (IUCN).
Arizona Woodpecker

Identification: The Arizona Woodpecker (Dryobates arizonae) has a brown back, heavily spotted underparts, and a large white cheek patch. Adult males have a red spot on the back of their crown.
Habitat: Prefers pine-oak, oak, and sycamore-walnut woodlands at middle elevations.
Range: The Arizona Woodpecker has a limited range in the southern tip of New Mexico and Arizona. Most of its geographic range is in Mexico.
Movements: The Arizona Woodpecker is a year-round resident within its range.
Behavior: Males attract mates and warn rivals by calling and drumming in spring.
Food: Insects, berries, and acorns. It forages by spiraling upwards around a tree trunk, flaking, prying bark.
Nest: Excavates cavities in dead wood, averaging 16 feet above ground. The cavity measures about 2 inches wide by 12 inches deep.
Breeding: Breeding months: late March to May. Clutch size: 2-4 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 13-14 days. Nestling period: 24-25 days.
Lifespan: The lifespan of the Arizona Woodpecker is not known.
How many are there?: The global breeding population is estimated at 200,000, with fewer than 5,000 in the United States.
Conservation: The Arizona Woodpecker is on the Partners in Flight Yellow Watch List due to its restricted range.
Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Identification: The Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a small black and white woodpecker. Its back is barred but the sides of the breast and belly are spotted. The head is patterned with black and white and only adult males have a red nape.
Range: Most of the the Nuttall’s woodpecker range lies within the State of California, where it is considered a near-endemic bird.
Habitat: The Nuttall Woodpecker favors oak woodlands. It can also be found in riparian corridors and low density urban areas that have enough habitat.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident.
Behavior: Usually found alone working on multiple types of branches and trunks. They can be seen foraging in pairs during the breeding season.
Food: They probe or flake tree bark in search of beetles, beetle larvae, ants, and termines. Occasionally they take fruit. They do not eat acorns in spite of living in oakland forests.
Nest: Nuttall’s woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches at variable heights from the ground.
Breeding: Breeding months: from early April through mid-July. Clutch size: 3-6 eggs. Egg color: White. Incubation period: 13-14 days. Nestling period:27-29 days.
Lifespan: Nuttall’s woodpeckers live at least 9 years.
How many are there?: According to Partners in Flight, the estimated global breeding population is 850,000 individuals.
Conservation: The Nuttal’s woodpecker is considered a species of least concern.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Identification: The Ladder-Backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) has a back barred with black and white but the sides of the breast and belly are spotted. The head is patterned. Adult males have a red crown and nape.
Range: The ladder-backed woodpecker is a year-round resident in Southern Arizona, S. New Mexico, and a small region in SE Colorado.
Habitat: It favors desert scrub and dry forest formations including very dry habitats. It also uses riparian corridors. In parts of its range, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers use juniper and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident within its range.
Behavior: Generally non-aggressive. Inspect branches and stem of all sizes without a particular preference.
Food: Ladder-backed Woodpeckers eat mostly insects and occasionally cactus fruit. It seems to prefer insect larvae. Prey also include wood-boring beetles, leafworms, ants, and caterpillars.
Nest: Ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches at variable heights from the ground.
Breeding: Breeding months: from mid April through late-July. Clutch size: 2-7 eggs. Egg color: White. Incubation period: 13 days. Nestling period: 27-29 days.
Lifespan: The Ladder-backed Woodpecker lives at least 5 years.
How many are there?: According to Partners in Flight, the global population size of the Ladder-backed Woodpecker is 5.9 million.
Conservation: It is considered a species of least concern.
American Three-toed Woodpecker

Identification: The male American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) is a small black and white bird with a yellow patch on the forehead. Females lack the yellow patch, while juveniles of both sexes have a small yellow crown patch.
Habitat: Prefers disturbed forests, such as young burned areas, bark beetle outbreaks, and windthrows in western and northern coniferous forests.
Range: In the Southwest Region, the American Three-toed Woodpecker is found in the mountains of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident but in some years wanders outside its regular range in search of food.
Behavior: Three-toed Woodpeckers typically forages alone, but in pairs during the breeding season. Both sexes call and drum frequently in the spring and early summer.
Food: Mainly beetle larvae and insects by flaking or scaling bark from tree trunks.
Nest: Excavates its own cavities in the trunk of a small, dead coniferous tree. The entrance hole is round and averages about 1.6 inches in diameter.
Breeding: Breeding months: mid May through late July. Clutch size: 3-7 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 13 days.
Lifespan: The lifespan of the American Three-toed Woodpecker is not known.
How many are there?: Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of the American Three-toed Woodpecker to be 1.6 million.
Conservation: Considered a species of least concern (IUCN).
Black-Backed Woodpecker

Identification: Adult male Black-backed Woodpeckers (Picoides dorsalis) have a solid black back with a yellow crown patch, a white stripe on the face, fine black barring on their flanks, and white underparts. Adult females are similar but lack the yellow crown patch. Juveniles resemble females, but they have a yellow crown patch.
Habitat: Prefers coniferous forests, particularly recently burned. In areas with less frequent fires, they may inhabit areas with dead trees from bark beetle outbreaks or wooded bogs.
Range: In the Southwest Region, the Black-backed Woodpecker is found only in NE California.
Movements: The Black-backed Woodpecker is a year-round resident within its range.
Behavior: Black-backed Woodpeckers are highly mobile birds that wander in search of burned forests for feeding and nesting.
Food: Primarily consumes wood-boring beetle larvae. Pecks through bark to locate larvae or inserting their long tongues into larval tunnels.
Nest: Excave its cavities in dead or sometimes live trees, usually on the main trunk. The entrance hole is about 1.8 inches in diameter. The cavity chamber is approximately 4 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep.
Breeding: Breeding months: early May through mid August. Clutch size: 2-6 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: approx. 13 days. Nestling period: 24 days.
Lifespan: The oldest recorded Black-backed Woodpecker was at least 4 years and 11 months old.
How many are there?: Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 1.7 million Black-backed Woodpeckers.
Conservation: Considered a species of Least Concern (IUCN).
White-headed Woodpecker

Identification: The White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus) is a medium-sized, all black woodpecker with a white head and white bases to the outer flight feathers. Males have a red nape, juveniles have a red crown patch.
Habitat: Mountain forests with ponderosa pine and sugar pine. Old-growth forests with open canopies, limited understory. Recently burned forests are often used.
Range: In the Southwest Region, the White-headed Woodpecker is found in the mountains of California, and in a very small portion of Western Nevada.
Movements: It is a year-round resident within its range.
Behavior: White-headed Woodpeckers are typically observed in pairs. They stay and roost together as a pair all year round. Pairs communicate with calls or drumming displays.
Food: Pine seeds, insects, sap. It obtains food by clinging to pine cones, prying, and hammering.
Nest: Cavity excavated in dead conifers. Circular entrance hole of about 1.8 inches in diameter. The chamber averages 5.1 inches in diameter and 8.3 inches deep.
Breeding: Breeding months (February through July). Clutch size: 2-9. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 11 to 14 days. Nestling period: approximately 25 days.
Lifespan: The oldest recorded individual was at least 4 years and 1 month old.
How many are there?: The estimated global breeding population of White-headed Woodpeckers is 240,000 individuals.
Conservation: The White-headed Woodpecker is listed as a species of low conservation concern by the IUCN.
Northern Flicker

Identification: The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is one of the largest woodpeckers in the region. It is warm-brown with black barring on the back and wings and large black spots on the belly. It has a conspicuous black crescent on the chest. Males have a black malar stripe, which is missing in the female.
Habitat: It is typically found in semi-open or open habitats with scattered trees. Lightly wooded suburban areas and edges of agricultural land are also favored by the northern flicker.
Range: The Northern Flicker occurs in all states of the Southwest Region.
Movements: It migrates short distances between the breeding and wintering grounds. It is a year-round resident in most of its range.
Behavior: Unlike other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker forages for food on the ground and tends to perch on horizontal rather than vertical branches, not using its tail as a prop. It has an undulating flight pattern.
Food: Northern flickers eat insects, particularly ants, ant larvae, and beetles on the ground. They peck at ant colonies in search of ant larvae. They also hammer cow patties to get the insect larvae inside or underneath. Northern flickers also include fruits and seeds in their diet, particularly in the winter months.
Nest: The Northern Flicker excavates their cavities in dead wood. Typically, nest cavities are 14 inches deep with semi-oval entrance holes of 3 inches in diameter.
Breeding season: Breeding months: late April through early August. Clutch size: 5-8 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 12 days. Nestling period: 25 days.
Lifespan: Northern flickers live at least 9 years and 2 months.
How many are there?: The estimated number of northern flickers in North America is 11 million.
Conservation: Considered a species of Least Concern (IUCN).
Gilded Flicker

Identification: Gilded Flickers are pale brown and gray with black crescents on their chests and bold spots on their breasts. They have finely barred backs, cinnamon crowns, and white rumps that are prominent in flight.
Habitat: Prefers extensive stands of giant cactus, especially saguaro, as well as desert washes with cottonwood and willow.
Range: Restricted to the Southwest Region, specifically to Arizona, the southeast corner of California and the Southern tip of Nevada. Its range extends south into Mexico.
Movements: The Gilded Flicker is a year-round resident within its range.
Behavior: Gilded Flickers are ground foragers and may forage for several hours at a single ant colony.
Food: Ants and their larvae. The Gilded Flicker obtains food by foraging on the ground, probing in anthills with its long tongue.
Nest: Excavates cavities in saguaro cactus, less frequently in cottonwood or willow. The entrance hole averages about 2.8 inches in diameter.
Breeding: Breeding months: April through July. Clutch size: 4-5 eggs. Egg color: White. Incubation period: 12 days. Nestling period: about 26 days.
Lifespan: The lifespan of a Gilded Flicker is at least 6 years and 4 months.
How many are there?: Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of Gilded Flickers at 770,000 individuals.
Conservation: The Gilded Flicker is placed on the Yellow Watch List of Partners in Flight due to its declining population.
Pileated Woodpecker

Identification: The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is mostly black with white stripes on the head and neck. Male and female have red crests, but only the male shows a red malar stripe. In flight, the extended wings show white patches and white underneath.
Habitat: It is typically found in mature deciduous or coniferous forests with large trees. It uses semi-open woodlands in suburban areas.
Range: In the Southwest Region, the Pileated Woodpecker is found in North and Central California.
Movements: It is considered a year-round resident but in some years may wander outside its regular range in search of food.
Behavior: The Pileated Woodpecker forages for food alone or in pairs. It often excavates large rectangular holes in search of carpenter ants and beetle larvae. The sound of its wood chopping action can be heard from a distance.
Food: Pileated woodpeckers feed on mostly insects, particularly carpenter ants. It also eats beetle larvae and other invertebrates it finds inside the bark and wood. They also include fruit, berries, holly, and dogwood in their diet.
Nest: Pileated woodpeckers can excavate a nesting cavity in 3-6 weeks. Unlike other woodpeckers, the entrance to a pileated woodpecker cavity is oblong rather than circular. Nest cavities are approximately 16 in deep. It almost never reuses the same cavity after use for breeding.
Breeding season: Breeding months: early March through mid-July. Clutch size: 3-5 eggs. Egg color: white. Incubation period: 17 days. Nestling period: 28 days.
Lifespan: Pileated woodpeckers live at least 12 years and 11 months.
How many are there?: The estimated number of pileated woodpeckers in North America is 2.6 million.
Conservation: Considered a species of Least Concern (IUCN).
Ecological role of Woodpeckers in the Ecosystems of the Southwest Region
Woodpeckers are keystone species in Southwestern forests and scrub, acting as ecosystem engineers. Their importance stems from:
- Creating cavities for other wildlife
- Controlling insect populations
- Aiding in forest regeneration
These activities significantly impact forest health, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem resilience. As such, woodpeckers are crucial to maintaining the ecological balance in Southwestern woodlands.
Their ecological importance can be summarized in several key aspects:
Cavity Creation
Woodpeckers are primary cavity excavators, creating essential habitats for a wide range of species:
- They excavate cavities in trees that serve as nesting and roosting sites for over 40 species of North American birds, including swallows, chickadees, wrens, and flycatchers.
- Small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates also utilize these cavities for shelter.
- In recently burned forests, woodpecker cavities are quickly occupied, with over 85% used by secondary cavity dwellers within the first year.
Insect Control
Woodpeckers play a key role in controlling insect populations
- They are attracted to trees afflicted with pests, such as ash trees affected by the emerald ash borer, helping to control these invasive species.
- Their foraging habits help regulate insect populations, contributing to overall forest health.
Forest Regeneration
Woodpeckers contribute to forest regeneration and ecosystem health through seed dispersal mechanisms, particularly when consuming fruits, berries, and seeds from various plant species. As they move between foraging sites, they transport and deposit seeds across different forest locations, facilitating plant reproduction and landscape-level biodiversity.
Adaptation to Disturbances
Woodpeckers, particularly species like the black-backed woodpecker, play a vital role in post-disturbance forest ecosystems:
- They readily utilize fire-killed trees for nesting and foraging, contributing to the ecological recovery of burned areas.
- Their activities in burned forests create habitats that enable other species to occupy and use these areas, facilitating diverse ecosystem functions.
Woodpecker-Human Interactions in the Southwest
Woodpeckers have a complex relationship with humans, exhibiting both beneficial interactions and conflicts. On the positive side, woodpeckers serve as natural pest controllers by feeding on wood-boring insects, which helps maintain healthy trees and forests. Their cavity excavation also creates nesting sites for secondary cavity-nesting birds and other wildlife, enhancing local biodiversity.
However, conflicts often arise, particularly in suburban and wooded areas where woodpeckers may cause property damage. Common issues include:
Drilling into wooden structures, which can lead to significant repair costs.
The noise from their pecking can also be disruptive, especially during the breeding season.
In the Southwest region, these problems are notably prevalent due to the high density of residential areas adjacent to suitable woodpecker habitats.
To mitigate these issues, several solutions and deterrents can be employed. For more detailed strategies on managing woodpecker interactions and preventing damage, refer to our article Woodpeckers Damage: Research-Proven Methods to Protect Your Homes.
Threats to Woodpeckers in the Southwest Region
Woodpeckers in the Southwest face several significant threats that impact their populations and habitats. Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary concerns, which can be exacerbated by climate change through extreme weather patterns disrupting breeding cycles.
Competition from invasive bird species. The aggressive European Starling competes for nesting cavities. Starlings often attack and dislodge nesting woodpeckers (particularly northern flickers), limiting reproductive success.
Conservation Strategies
Targeted conservation strategies can support the health of woodpecker populations in the Southwest region:
- Habitat protection and restoration focus on preserving existing woodpecker habitats and restoring degraded areas to create suitable environments for nesting and foraging.
- Sustainable forestry practices aim to balance timber production with wildlife conservation, ensuring that woodpecker habitats remain intact while still providing economic benefits.
- Monitoring and research efforts help track woodpecker populations and assess the effectiveness of conservation strategies, allowing for adaptive management approaches.
- Public education and outreach initiatives raise awareness about the importance of woodpeckers in ecosystems and encourage community involvement in conservation efforts.
Closing Remarsk:
The guide to the Woodpeckers of the Southwest Region of North America and Canada includes the seventeen (17) species of woodpeckers, flickers, and sapsuckers known to occur in the region. The geographic range covered by this guide includes the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Additional resources:
- Woodpecker Feet and Toes
- The Woodpecker Tail
- The Woodpecker Tongue
- The Marvels of Woodpecker Bills
- Understanding Woodpecker Drumming Behavior
- Woodpeckers as Cavity Creators
- What do Woodpeckers Eat?
- Woodpecker Migration
Photo Credits:
The photographic material used in this guide was made available on various websites. Many thanks to Andrew Morffew, Mark Mochell, Elizabeth Milson, Duzan Brinkhuizen, Dennis Church, Wendy Miller, Rick From Alabama, John Benson, Mick Thompson, Steve Guttman, Victor Espinoza, Kelly Colgan-Azar, Andy Reago, Chrissy McLaren, Garry C., Linda Fortuna, Vicky DeLoach, Paul Hurtado, Tom Murray, Tom Wilberding, Kenneth Cole-Schneider, Doug Greenberg, Brian Garrett, David White, Becky Matsubara, Dan Mooney, Hal Trachtenberg, Lloyd Davis, Denis Fournier, Gregory Heaton, hharryus, Greg Lavaty, Dona Hilkey, Joshua Mayer, Aaron Maizlish, Ashley Tubs, Richard George, Sandra Minica, Nick, Jon valentine, Steve Valasek, Mitch Walters, Kurayba and Julio Mulero.
Voices:
Most recordings were made by Paul Marvin (Xeno-canto https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/RFTXRYBVBX)
References and Sources:
- Allaboutbirds.org)
- eBird. (https://ebird.org/)
- Gill, Frank B., 1994. Ornithology – 2nd Edition, W. H. Freeman and Company.
- Sibley, David, 2000, The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, Publisher.
- Species Longevity Data: United States Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/)
- The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, 2001. Chris Elphick, John Dunning, and David Sibley (eds). Alfred A. Knopf, New York.