Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorusOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

General

Acorn Woodpecker: Medium-sized, clown-faced woodpecker with red crown, glossy black-and-white head, and glaring white eyes. Body is black with white rump and belly. One or more red- or yellow-tipped throat feathers may be present. Wings are black with white patches. Female and juvenile are similar.

Range and Habitat

Acorn Woodpecker: Year-round resident from southern Oregon south through California, and in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas; also found in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open oak and pine-oak forests.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"ja-cob, ja-cob", "wake-up, wake-up"

Interesting Facts

The Acorn Woodpecker stores nuts in individually drilled holes in trees called granaries. The acorns are jammed in so tight that even squirrels can’t pry them out. Some of these granary trees have up to 50,000 holes drilled by extended woodpecker families.
Acorns seem to be emergency provisions; on mild winter days these birds catch flying insects.
Breeding groups may contain as many as 7 male breeders and 3 females. All breeding males can mate with any and all of the female breeders of the group.
A group of acorn woodpeckers are collectively known as a "bushel" of woodpeckers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker: Medium-sized, clown-faced woodpecker with red crown, glossy black-and-white head, and glaring white eyes. Black patch around base of bill. Body is black with white rump and belly. One or more red- or yellow-tipped throat feathers may be present. Wings are black with white patches.

● Song: "ja-cob, ja-cob", "wake-up, wake-up"

● Foraging & Feeding: Acorn Woodpecker: Primary diet consists of insects, sap, oak catkins, fruits, and flower nectar; acorns are critical for winter survival. Occasionally eats grass seeds, lizards, and bird eggs. Most foraging is performed in or near the canopy; rarely goes to the ground except to pick up grit and fallen acorns.

● Breeding & nesting: Acorn Woodpecker: Three to seven white eggs are laid in a hole in a tree. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents. Usually nests in colonies with all members sharing in excavation of holes, mostly in dead oak branches.

● Similar species: Acorn Woodpecker: White-headed Woodpecker is similar, but lacks white rump and has an entirely white face and crown, and a black belly.

Flight Pattern

Undulating flight., Several rapid wing beats and then a pause.

● Range & Habitat: Acorn Woodpecker: Year-round resident from southern Oregon south through California, and in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas; also found in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open oak and pine-oak forests.

^BreedingCooperative, Communal

^PopulationFairly common to common

^MigrationSome migrate

^Weight2.9 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America