Species Profile
Arizona Woodpecker
Picoides arizonae
Arizona Woodpecker
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
5–8 years
Length
19–21 cm
Weight
40–60 g
Wingspan
33–36 cm
Migration
Resident
Also known as: Strickland's Woodpecker
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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.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Black
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Grey
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Black
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Grey
Female Markings
Lacks red crown patch present in males
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & 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.
Distribution
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.
Calls & Sounds
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.
Conservation
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
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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