Acorn Woodpecker

The Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) can easily be identified by their black-and-white barred back, bright red head and face, and their loud, rattling call.  This woodpecker is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and feeds mainly on acorns and other nuts, storing them in granary trees to eat later.   Acorn Woodpeckers are highly social, often forming flocks with several birds helping to store food and feed young. They are cavity nesters, excavating nests in dead trees or cacti, and will often nest close to other pairs.   They evolved a unique strategy for food storage and caching, which has earned them the nickname “farmer birds.” They work together to create communal granaries, which can be found in dead trees.   These granaries can contain thousands of acorns and nuts, which are often sorted by type and size and can be used over generations.

These woodpeckers play an important role in their environment. They disperse the acorns and other tree seeds they store in trees, hollows, or crevices to other areas, helping to regenerate forests and other areas of vegetation.  Additionally, many other species use the cavities created by the Acorn Woodpecker, including other species of woodpeckers, owls, kestrels, and bluebirds, helping to maintain a healthy balance in the forest ecosystem and by feeding on insects and bugs they help control the insect population.

Acorn Woodpeckers are also fascinating to watch. Their unique calls and drumming sounds can be heard echoing through the forest. They have a distinctive way of flying, which involves a series of three rapid wing flaps followed by a glide.  They can also cling to tree trunks and branches at impossible angles, thanks to their stiff tail feathers and strong feet with four toes, two that face forward and two that face backwards.