Gila Woodpecker

We have dozens of these Gila Woodpeckers who visit our feeders. We believe some of them are the same ones returning year after year, bring their... more

by Bob and Nadine Johnston

Buy the Original Painting

Price

$7

Dimensions

4044.000 x 2890.000 pixels

Title

Gila Woodpecker

Artist

Bob and Nadine Johnston

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Hardboard - Canvas Or Prints And Cards... Digital Fine Art And Paintings...

Description

We have dozens of these Gila Woodpeckers who visit our feeders. We believe some of them are the same ones returning year after year, bring their young. Usually the males that are larger.

Most possess white, black, brown, green, yellow and red plumage, although many show a certain amount of grey and olive green. In woodpeckers, many species exhibit patches of red and yellow on their heads and bellies, and these bright areas are important in signaling. The dark areas of plumage are often iridescent. Although the sexes of tend to look alike, many woodpecker species have more prominent red or yellow head markings in males than in females.

The back and wings of this bird are spotted and barred with a black and white zebra-like pattern. The neck, throat, belly and head are greyish-tan in color. The male has a small red cap on the top of the head. Females and juveniles are similar, but both lack the red cap of the adult male. White wing patches are prominent in flight. The dark tail has white bars on the central tail feathers. They range from 8�10 in (20�25 cm) in length.

This woodpecker's habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran desert. They build nests in holes made in saguaro cacti or mesquite trees. Cavities excavated by these woodpeckers in saguaro cacti are later used by a variety of other species, including the Elf Owl. There, they typically lay 3�5 white eggs.

Uploaded

June 5th, 2014