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Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Picoides scalarisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Breeding Location:

Shrubs, Dense cactuses



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

2 - 7



Incubation Days:

13



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Bark chips.



Migration:

Nonmigratory



Splitbar

Overview

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black-and-white barred upperparts, shoulders, and wings, underparts are buff-gray with black spots, buff-gray face, red crown, and black forehead, nape, rump, and tail. Outer tail feathers are white barred. Bill, legs and feet are black.

Range and Habitat

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Breeds from southwestern U.S. south to British Honduras. Found in wooded canyons, cottonwood groves, pine and pine oak woodlands, desert scrub, and desert grasslands dominated by mesquite.

Breeding and Nesting

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Two to seven white eggs are laid in a cavity nest made of bark chips, usually 3 to 30 feet above the ground in a dead tree or branch. Eggs are incubated for 13 days by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Eats insects and cactus fruit; forages on tree trunks, limbs, and sometimes on the ground.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Call is a clear, high-pitched "pik", often repeated.

Similar Species

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Nuttall's Woodpecker has black ear patches bordered by white, cleaner white breast, and fewer spots on flanks. Downy and Hairy woodpeckers have solid white backs and lack spots on breasts and flanks.

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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Picoides scalaris
Length6 - 7.25 Inches
Wingspan11.5 Inches

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black-and-white barred upperparts, shoulders, and wings, underparts are buff-gray with black spots, buff-gray face, red crown, and black forehead, nape, rump, and tail. Outer tail feathers are white barred. Bill, legs and feet are black.

● Song: "pik"

● Foraging & Feeding: Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Eats insects and cactus fruit; forages on tree trunks, limbs, and sometimes on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Two to seven white eggs are laid in a cavity nest made of bark chips, usually 3 to 30 feet above the ground in a dead tree or branch. Eggs are incubated for 13 days by both parents.

● Similar species: Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Nuttall's Woodpecker has black ear patches bordered by white, cleaner white breast, and fewer spots on flanks. Downy and Hairy woodpeckers have solid white backs and lack spots on breasts and flanks.

Flight Pattern

Series of rapid shallow wing beats alternating with short glides.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Breeds from southwestern U.S. south to British Honduras. Found in wooded canyons, cottonwood groves, pine and pine oak woodlands, desert scrub, and desert grasslands dominated by mesquite.
BreedingMonogamous
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1.1 Ounces