Acorn Woodpecker
The Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus, is a medium-sized woodpecker.
Adults have a black head, back, wings and tail. They have a white forehead, throat, belly and rump. Their eyes are white. Adult males have a red cap starting at their forehead; females have a black area between the forehead and the cap.
Their breeding habitat is forested areas with oaks in the southern United States south to Columbia. They nest in a large cavity in a dead tree or a dead part of a tree; the pair excavates the nest. A group of adults may participate in nesting activities.
This bird is a permanent resident throughout its range. They may relocate to another area if acorns are not readily available.
These birds gather acorns; they drill holes in a dead tree and stuff acorns into them. They also pick insects off tree bark or catch insects in flight. Acorns represent a significant part of their diet; they also eat insects, fruit, seeds and sometimes tree sap.
Referenced By
List of North American birds: non-passerines | List of birds of Santa Cruz County, California (continued) | North American birds | Woodpecker
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