General

Golden-fronted Woodpecker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black-and-white barred back and wings, white rump, yellow-orange nape, red cap, yellow patch at base of upper mandible, and buff-gray face and underparts. Female lacks red cap; juvenile has streaked breast and lacks red cap and yellow nape and bill patches.

Range and Habitat

Golden-fronted Woodpecke: Resident in southwestern Oklahoma and central Texas. Frequents open woods in dry country and river bottoms with trees.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"churrrrrrr-churrrrrrrr", "kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek", "check, check"

Interesting Facts

 The Golden-fronted Woodpecker consumes about as much fruit and nuts as it does insects. In summer in Texas, the faces of some woodpeckers become stained purple from eating fruit of the prickly pear cactus.

 It is composed of four subspecies that differ in size, amount of barring on the tail, and the color of the nape, nasal tufts, and belly. The four forms were formerly considered different species.

 This bird was first described by Johann Georg Wagler, the German herpetologist. The original scientific name was Centurus aurifrons.

 A group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including a "descent", "drumming", and "gatling" of woodpeckers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick