Arizona Woodpecker
Encyclopedia
The Arizona Woodpecker (Picoides arizonae) is a woodpecker
native to southern Arizona
and New Mexico
and the Sierra Madre Occidental
of western Mexico
. The species northernmost range in southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora
is the region of the Madrean sky islands
, a region of higher Sonoran Desert
mountain ranges.
This species is known in older field guides as a subspecies of Strickland's Woodpecker
. The 42nd supplement of the American Ornithologists Union checklist officially split Strickland's Woodpecker into two species: the northern population in the Sierra Madre Occidental region (Arizona, P. arizonae) and the southern population in central Mexico (Strickland's, P. stricklandi).
Arizona Woodpeckers are nearly identical to Strickland's Woodpeckers, growing to be about 7 to 8 inches in length. Their plumage is mainly brown and white in coloration, brown on top with a dark rump with white underparts speckled with brown spots. Arizona Woodpeckers usually have white bars on their wings, and have two white stripes across their face which join with another white bar on their neck. Male Arizona Woodpeckers also have a red patch on the nape of their head which is lacking on females.
The call of the Arizona Woodpecker is a sharp, squeaky keech, and this species also gives a rattle call of descending, grating notes.
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
native to southern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and the Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
of western Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The species northernmost range in southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
is the region of the Madrean sky islands
Madrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
, a region of higher Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
mountain ranges.
This species is known in older field guides as a subspecies of Strickland's Woodpecker
Strickland's Woodpecker
The Strickland's Woodpecker is a medium-sized species of woodpecker endemic to Mexico. The Arizona Woodpecker The Strickland's Woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi) is a medium-sized species of woodpecker endemic to Mexico. The Arizona Woodpecker The Strickland's Woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi) is...
. The 42nd supplement of the American Ornithologists Union checklist officially split Strickland's Woodpecker into two species: the northern population in the Sierra Madre Occidental region (Arizona, P. arizonae) and the southern population in central Mexico (Strickland's, P. stricklandi).
Description
The call of the Arizona Woodpecker is a sharp, squeaky keech, and this species also gives a rattle call of descending, grating notes.
External links
- Arizona Woodpecker at AviBase
- Arizona Woodpecker at eNature
- Arizona Woodpecker at HikeArizona.COM
- Arizona Woodpecker at USGS
- Arizona Woodpecker photo gallery VIREO
- Phote-High Res; Article "friends of Madera Canyon" friendsofmaderacanyon.org
