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Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Melanerpes aurifronsOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Breeding Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Brown in young birds, dark red or red brown in adults.
  • Head Pattern: Capped
  • Crown Color: Red
  • Forehead Color: White
  • Nape Color: Yellow and gray.
  • Throat Color: Gray
  • Cere color: No Data
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Breeding Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 22-25 cm (8.5-10 in)
  • Weight: 85 g (3 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Red, Orange, White, Black, Gray, Yellow
  • Underparts: Pale gray with faint yellow on belly.
  • Upperparts: Black and white barring and white rump.
  • Back Pattern: Barred or banded
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Breeding Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates series of shallow rapid wing beats with short glides, producing a series of undulations as it progresses.
  • Wingspan Range: 41-46 cm (16-18 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Forked Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black with black and white spotted outer feathers.
  • Under Tail: Black with black and white spotted outer feathers.
  • Leg Color: Gray-black
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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Melanerpes aurifrons
Length8.5 - 10 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Golden-fronted Woodpecker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black-and-white barred back and wings, white rump and black tail. Head has golden yellow-orange nape, red cap, small yellow patch at base of upper mandible, and buff-gray face. Underparts are gray-white. Black bill, legs and feet.

● Song: "churrrrrrr-churrrrrrrr", "kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek", "check, check"

● Foraging & Feeding: Golden-fronted Woodpecker: Eats insects, spiders, wild berries, fruits, nuts, acorns, and seeds. Forages low on trees and on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Golden-fronted Woodpecker: Four to seven white eggs are laid in a nest made of bark chips, and built from 3 to 25 feet above the ground in a cavity in a dead or living tree, utility pole, fence post, or man-made structure. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Golden-fronted Woodpecker: Red-bellied Woodpecker is similar, but male has red restricted to cap, orange nape, and yellow forecrown; female lacks red but has orange nape.

Flight Pattern

Alternates series of shallow rapid wing beats with short glides, producing a series of undulations as it progresses.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Golden-fronted Woodpecke: Resident in southwestern Oklahoma and central Texas. Frequents open woods in dry country and river bottoms with trees.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon to fairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight3 Ounces