Arizona Woodpecker

Overview

The Arizona woodpecker is a native species found in southern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Mexico. Historically considered a subspecies of Strickland's woodpecker, it is now officially recognised as a distinct species by the American Ornithologists Union.

Identification

• Molar brown and white plumage with brown upperparts, a dark rump, and white underparts speckled with brown spots.
• Distinctive facial markings include two white stripes across the face that join with a white bar on the neck, along with white bars on the wings.
• Males possess a red patch on the nape of the head, a feature absent in females.
• The bird is about 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm) in length and produces a sharp, squeaky 'keech' call alongside a rattle of descending, grating notes.

Habitat

This species inhabits the Sierra Madre Occidental in western Mexico, as well as southern Arizona and New Mexico. Its northernmost range covers the Madrean Sky Islands in southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora, which are higher mountain ranges within the Sonoran Desert.

Did you know?

This species was officially split from Strickland's woodpecker in the 42nd supplement of the American Ornithologists Union checklist, although some authorities still classify it within the genus Picoides.