Acorn Woodpecker
[order] PICIFORMES | [family] Picidae | [latin] Melanerpes formicivorus | [UK] Acorn Woodpecker | [FR] Pic galndivore | [DE] Eichelspecht | [ES] Carpintero careto (Cr), Carpintero Arlequin (Mex), Cheje Bellotero, Garacaca, Guaracaca (HN) | [NL] Eikelspecht
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | NA, LA | nw USA to Colombia | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | albeolus | e Chiapas (se Mexico) to Belize and ne Guatemala | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | angustifrons | s Baja California (Mexico) | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | bairdi | Oregon (USA) to n Baja California (Mexico) | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | flavigula | Colombia | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | formicivorus | sw USA to se Mexico | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | lineatus | Chiapas (s Mexico) to n Nicaragua | ||
| Melanerpes | formicivorus | striatipectus | Nicaragua to w Panama |
Physical charateristics
Note the clownish black, white, and red head pattern. A black-backed woodpecker showing a conspicuous white rump and white wing patches in flight. Both sexes have whitish eyes, red on crown.
Listen to the sound of Acorn Woodpecker
[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/A/Acorn Woodpecker.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
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Range
North America, Latin America : Northwest USA to Colombia
Habitat
Oak woods, groves, mixed forest, oak-pine canyons, foothill Seldom away from oaks. Most common where several species of oaks occur together (t
his insures against total failure of local acorn crop, as different oaks respond to different conditions). May be in open oak groves near coast, pine-oak woods in mountains, streamside sycamores next to oak-covered hillsides.
his insures against total failure of local acorn crop, as different oaks respond to different conditions). May be in open oak groves near coast, pine-oak woods in mountains, streamside sycamores next to oak-covered hillsides.
Reproduction
Breeding group consists of pair, usually assisted by additional birds, generally the pair’s earlier offspring or other related individuals. Group may consist of 10+ birds (as many as 16), which defend communal food stores and nesting territory year-round.
b Nest: Site is a cavity in tree (almost always dead tree or dead branch of live tree), 5-60′ above ground, usually 12-30′. Excavated by both sexes and by helpers. No nest material other than wood chips in cavity.
b Eggs: 3-
7. White. Nests with more eggs (up to 17 recorded) must result from more than one female laying. Incubation mainly by both parents at first, with helpers soon joining in; incubating birds take turns, with rapid turnover, sometimes changing places many
times per hour. Incubation period 11-14 days.
b Young: Are fed by both parents and by helpers, and leave nest at about 30-32 days. 1-2 broods per year, possibly sometimes 3.
Feeding habits
Omnivorous; eats many acorns and insects.
Acorns about half of annual diet, and are of major importance in winter. Also feeds on insects, particularly ants. Eats various nuts, fruits, seeds, sometimes birds’ eggs.
b Behavior: Members of group harvest acorns in fall, store
them in hole-studded trees, feed on them in following seasons. Insects are gleaned from surface of tree or caught in flight. Unlike most woodpeckers, rarely or never excavates in wood for insects. May feed on sap, digging pits in bark or visiting those m
ade by sapsuckers.
Acorns about half of annual diet, and are of major importance in winter. Also feeds on insects, particularly ants. Eats various nuts, fruits, seeds, sometimes birds’ eggs.
b Behavior: Members of group harvest acorns in fall, store
them in hole-studded trees, feed on them in following seasons. Insects are gleaned from surface of tree or caught in flight. Unlike most woodpeckers, rarely or never excavates in wood for insects. May feed on sap, digging pits in bark or visiting those m
ade by sapsuckers.
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Resident, western United States to Colombia. b
Migration: Mostly permanent resident throughout range. Stragglers may appear far from nesting areas at any season. If acorn crops fail, may stage small invasions to lowland valleys in fall and winter.
Migration: Mostly permanent resident throughout range. Stragglers may appear far from nesting areas at any season. If acorn crops fail, may stage small invasions to lowland valleys in fall and winter.
Distribution map
