A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi
The Acorn woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a distinctive look. Sometimes described as having a clown's face. A male is in pic 1 showing his red cap and black and white plumage. Pics 2-5 show a female that was in the same tree and is differentiated in appearance from the male by having a black patch between the red cap and white forehead.
Spotted in an oak tree at the Catherine Creek Day Use Area in Kittitas County, Washington State. Mostly oak forest/groves in this area along the Columbia River. This location is the bird's most northerly range.
Ranges in coastal oak forest and groves in Oregon, California, and south to Columbia South America. Also found in Arizona, New Mexico, and extreme west Texas where suitable habitats. These woodpeckers are known for storing acorns in holes drilled in trees (granary trees) for winter food. Pic 5 shows one about to have an acorn snack.
Spotted on Feb 12, 2022
Submitted on Feb 20, 2022
No Comments