Melanerpes formicivorus (Family: Picidae)
Acorn Woodpecker
A medium-sized woodpecker with a striking black, white, and red pattern, known for its unique habit of storing acorns in tree trunks.
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Plumage & appearance
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.
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