Bird of the Week: CLXXVI
I spotted a new bird in our yard last week. This is a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker. It’s much smaller than my other woodpeckers, the Gila Woodpecker and Gilded Flicker. It was high up in a tree and I could tell it was a new bird by it’s shape. This was the only photo I caputured.
Here’s the info I found from All About Birds and Audubon about this small woodpecker:
SIZE:
- Both Sexes
- Length: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)
- Weight: 0.7-1.7 oz (21-48 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0 in (33 cm)
COLOR:
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are black-and-white with ladder rung stripes on the back, and a more checkered pattern on the wings. The underparts are whitish or gray, flecked with black. The white face is broken by black lines that extend from the bill and eye. Males have red crowns; females have blackish crowns.
BEHAVIOR:
I learned from All About Birds that they forage in trees and bushes and are mostly hidden from view. That’s probably why I haven’t seen one until recently!
They live in hot arid areas such as deserts, pinyon forests, or dry scrub. They build nests in cavities in trees and cactus.
DIET:
They mostly eat insects including caterpillars, ants and beetles. They also eat fruit and seeds, plus cactus fruit. They forage in tree bark, pecking with their beaks to find bugs.
CALLS:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ladder-backed_Woodpecker/sounds
Lucky to get one photo. Their call is intersting
I was lucky to spot this guy in the tree. I have heard their calls, so they must be around, but they hide in branches and bushes.
I love how you’re learning about all these things!!
I’m happy to have a few new birds in my backyard. I was almost out of birds to learn about.
I vaguely remember reading about a new book, non fiction, focusing on birds. if I remember title I’ll tell you
Was it Amy Tan’s “Backyard Bird Chronicles?” It’s a diary of birds in her backyard along with drawings she’s done. I read it a little bit at a time.
no. but I loved that book. let me think…
👍🏼
the Book of Birds by Robert McFarland (sp)
Oh good. Another one! Thanks.
I think we get these woodpeckers in our area, also. A lot of times I see them pecking away at our power poles. And sometimes they get into the hummingbird feeder.
I had to take down the hummingbird feeder because the Gila Woodpecker would attach itself to it and empty in one sitting!
Yeah, they can be pesky that way.
Yes. I decided to go without the hummingbird feeders. But I see them drinking from our flowers.
An attractive bird, I saw one on my hummer feeder last year. I had to send the photo to my sister to ID it. Great photo!
I’ve only seen him once. You’re lucky to see one too. I’m excited to have a few new birds stop by.
Really interesting feather pattern! As we get more desert-like up here maybe someday we’ll have some stop by the yard 🙂
There are several woodpeckers with black and white patterns on their backs. I wanted to link to my Gila Woodpecker and Gilded Flicker but WP wasn’t allowing links yesterday. Very strange.
Yes, WP is doing “things” again. I have new features on the top of the website page that I didn’t add myself. I’m a bit afraid to dig deeper as I’m usually not happy with what I find they’ve done 😉
I wonder if they think they are improving things, but instead we get glitches or things we didn’t up for?
Oh, he’s a handsome bird! I love that you can tell newcomers to your yard by their shape. Beautiful profile, Elizabeth!
Thanks! It was his profile with his crown and a different shaped head and body that I noticed first. I use my camera and zoom lens like binoculars.
He looks very like our hairy woodpecker, just larger.
👍
I think I read that they are a little bigger than the hairy woodpecker. But they are much smaller than my Gila and Gilded.
I have noticed a few woodpeckers in Florida. That is a good hobby. It is interesting all your notes as you are learning new things. I am on the same track but learning randomly, things which make me quizzical….I like that during this time you picked something next to the home. I can understand that completely!
Thanks! All of my bird photos are taken in my backyard. Yesterday, I saw a hot, panting coyote couple walk by but they were gone by the time I grabbed my camera. They stay on the outside of our fence, thankfully. But I’m sure they could jump over it if they wanted. I’ve seen them jump on a six foot wall.
You have to be in good physical condition to jump. At this time, I am not. We have a few coyotes here in Florida. They like the local golf course near woods.
I can’t jump at all after my ankle surger and foot surgery. Those days are done for me. We have a golf course over the wall that the coyotes jump over. The golf course waters the grass in the evenings and it must be cooler for coyotes and other wildlife.
I can’t either with my hip. I am using a 3 point cane to distribute weight over the left side more evenly. It helps.
I’m glad it helps!
What a cutie!
I wish he’d come back!
Good capture! Not sure I’ve ever seen one.
I’m sure it’s because they hide in bushes and behind branches. I’ve heard their call before.
They look cool! Thanks for sharing about them and glad you could get s photo of one. 🙂
I’m glad too! I was down to my last two birds for the Bird of the Week challenge and two new ones showed up!
Lovely to get to know your new visitor.
Yes, I’m excited to see a few new birds.
What a cute little bird! Did it peck at the tree?
Yes, he pecked at the tree bark. Our other species of woodpeckers do that too.
Very pretty!
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