(Male) Nuttall's Woodpecker

Description:

"Nuttall’s Woodpecker has black wings and tail feathers with white barring. On the ventral surface, colour is white with black spots and barring. It has a black forehead with white streaks on the sides and an unbarred black region at the top of the back. Adult males have a distinguishable red crown which females do not. However, this physical feature is present in the juvenile of both sexes. They have zygodactyl feet and stiff tail feathers which allows them to maintain a vertical position on trees; typical of woodpeckers. The mass of Nuttall’s Woodpecker ranges from 30 to 45 g with a body length of 16 to 18 cm." - Wikipedia

Habitat:

Large Gum tree in backyard. "Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are a non-migratory species with a geographic range that is confined to northern California extending south towards the northwest region of Baja California, Mexico. Their preferred habitat is arid to mesic woodlands. In particular, these woodpeckers prefer oak woodlands, although they also occur in riparian sites and chaparral in the most southern parts of its range because of the decrease in oak abundance. Individuals are found from sea level to 1250 m, rarely to 2000 m." - Wikipedia

Notes:

"The Nuttall’s Woodpecker is closely related to the Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. The Nuttall's Woodpecker likely evolved via allopatric speciation when the two species were separated into smaller ranges by dry climate during the Pleistocene glaciation." - Wikipedia