Arizona Woodpecker
Least ConcernPicoides arizonae
Visual Identification
Arizona Woodpecker
Appearance
The Arizona Woodpecker is a small, predominantly brown woodpecker with distinctive white spotting on its wings and underparts. Its back is a rich chocolate brown, contrasting with its pale, speckled belly. The bird's head features a black cap and nape, with white stripes above and below the eyes.
Males are distinguished by a small red patch on the nape, absent in females. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a slightly duller plumage and less distinct markings. Unlike many other woodpeckers, this species does not undergo significant seasonal plumage changes.
Size
Length
19cm to 21cm
Wingspan
33cm to 36cm
Weight
40g to 60g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Arizona Woodpeckers are primarily found in the pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico, extending northward into the sky islands of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico in the United States. They prefer mature forests with a mix of pine, oak, and juniper trees.
In the United States, their range is limited to a few mountain ranges, including the Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains. These birds are year-round residents, maintaining their territories throughout the seasons, with only slight altitudinal movements in response to severe weather or food availability.
Elevation Range
1,200 to 2,400 meters
Climate zones
Subtropical, Temperate
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
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Diet
The Arizona Woodpecker's diet primarily consists of insects, particularly wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and caterpillars. They use their strong bills to probe and pry into bark crevices, precisely excavating their prey.
Occasionally, they supplement their diet with nuts, seeds, and berries, especially during winter.
Behaviour
Arizona Woodpeckers are active foragers, often seen spiraling up tree trunks and along branches in search of insects. They exhibit a unique 'flycatching' behavior, sallying from perches to catch flying insects.
These birds are generally non-migratory and maintain year-round territories, often seen in pairs or small family groups.
Vocalisation
The Arizona Woodpecker's call is a sharp, high-pitched 'peek' or 'pit-pit,' often repeated in a series. Their drumming is rapid and brief, typically lasting about a second. Drumming is also used as a form of communication between pairs and is commonly heard in the morning during breeding.
During the breeding season, males produce a distinctive 'rattle-call,' a fast series of notes that sounds like a miniature jackhammer: 'brrrrp'.
Nesting & Breeding
Arizona Woodpeckers typically form monogamous pairs and begin their breeding season in late spring to early summer. Courtship involves drumming displays and vocalizations to attract mates and establish territories.
Nests are excavated in dead trees or snags, usually 3 to 15 meters above the ground. The female typically lays 3 to 5 white eggs in the cavity nest lined with wood chips.
Both parents share incubation duties for about 13-14 days. After hatching, the nestlings remain in the nest for approximately 26 days before fledging. The parents continue to care for and feed the young for several weeks after they leave the nest.
Lifespan
years
The Arizona Woodpecker typically lives for 5 to 8 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 16 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, the Arizona Woodpecker faces potential threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and climate change.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing the pine-oak woodlands crucial to this species' survival, particularly in the sky island ecosystems of the southwestern United States.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them in pine-oak forests of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico
- Listen for their distinctive 'pit-pit' call or rapid drumming on tree trunks
- Observe dead trees or snags where they often forage for insects
- Watch for their characteristic hitching movement up tree trunks
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Strickland's Woodpecker
Family:
PicidaePredators
Did You Know?
- The Arizona Woodpecker is North America's only predominantly brown woodpecker.
- It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Strickland's Woodpecker until it was split into a separate species in 1983.
- These woodpeckers play a crucial role in their ecosystem by creating nesting cavities that are later used by other bird species.
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FAQs
What attracts Arizona Woodpeckers?
Preserving the habitat of Arizona woodpeckers is the most positive action that can be taken, and they will thrive in areas where dead wood snags are allowed to remain in place without being disturbed.
What trees do Arizona Woodpeckers prefer?
Pine, oak, and sycamore woodlands appear to be favorite nesting and foraging spots for Arizona woodpeckers. Pine species that are especially popular include Apache pine, Chihuahua pine, and ponderosa pine. Walnuts in riverside landscapes are also frequently used, and foraging also takes place among cypresses, maples, willows, and junipers.
Do Arizona Woodpeckers harm trees?
Arizona woodpeckers usually chip away at areas of dead wood when constructing their nest chambers. Structural damage to a tree is usually minimal, with the benefits of woodpeckers outweighing any negatives. The presence of Arizona woodpeckers helps control populations of wood-boring beetles, termites, and carpenter bees.
Do Arizona Woodpeckers go to bird feeders?
In backyards located within the foothills of the mid-elevation ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, opportunistic Arizona woodpeckers may occasionally visit bird feeders and are particularly drawn to suet logs and suet cakes.
References
- 1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2020. Leuconotopicus arizonae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22729044A141045072.
View source - 2
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
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