Acorn Woodpecker

Brief Description

A medium-sized woodpecker with a striking black, white, and red pattern, known for its unique habit of storing acorns in tree trunks.

Additional Information

• Region of Origin: Western and Southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America (Colombia)
• Typical Sighting Period: Year-round resident in most of its range, active throughout the day.
• Plumage Details: Adults have a black back, white belly, and a red cap, with a distinctive white patch on the forehead, black around the eyes, and a broad black band extending from the eye to the back of the head. Males have more red on the crown than females. They also have white rump patches visible in flight.
• Ecological Significance: Acorn Woodpeckers are crucial seed dispersers and create granaries that provide food sources for other animals. Their cavities also provide nesting sites for various secondary cavity nesters.
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
• Observation Tips: Look for them in oak woodlands and pine-oak forests. Listen for their distinctive 'waka-waka' calls. Observe their communal behavior at granary trees.