Woodpeckers are a fascinating species of bird found in New Mexico. These birds are well adapted to the diverse geography of the state, from the high elevation of the Rocky Mountains to the low elevation of the Chihuahuan Desert. Woodpeckers in New Mexico can be found in a variety of habitats, including coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and riparian areas. They are also found in urban areas, where they use trees and buildings for nesting and foraging. Woodpeckers in New Mexico are known for their unique drumming behavior, which is used to communicate with other woodpeckers, to attract mates, and to locate food. They also use their strong beaks to excavate cavities in trees for nesting and to break open nuts and insects. Woodpeckers in New Mexico are an important part of the state’s ecology, providing food for other species and helping to control insect populations.
woodpeckers IN NEW MEXICO
Read on to learn more about the 9 woodpeckers that visit New Mexico.
Acorn Woodpecker
- Melanerpes formicivorus
- Size: 8″ (21 cm)
Identification and Color: The Acorn Woodpecker is mostly black, with some white patches on its face and white to gray undersides. A dominant black patch around the bill and a striking red on top. Females tend to have less red than males. They have short and pointed bills.
Habitat and Behavior: Found on the west coast and some southwest states. The Acorn Woodpecker makes oak trees their homes and is rarely found away from those trees. Will live in large groups and store their acorns in holes they’ve created in the oaks.
Diet: As the name implies, the Acorn Woodpecker enjoys acorns but will also eat insects, fruits, and seeds.
What does an Acorn Woodpecker sound like?
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) · call
Thomas Magarian
William Finley NWR Headquarters, Benton County, Oregon, United States
American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Picoides dorsalis
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: The American Three-toed Woodpecker has a short body with a short, pointed, and strong bill. Males have a yellow patch on their heads. Speckled black and white on top and bottom, solid black in between, and white lines by the eyes.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in the far north, including Canada and Alaska, also found in the Rocky Mountain ranges. Prefers conifer forests with fir, spruce, and pine trees. Forages by picking small pieces of bark off trees and does not go very deep into them.
Diet: Mainly insect-based diet of beetles and caterpillars found in trees. They may also eat some fruits or sap.
What does an American Three-toed Woodpecker sound like?
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis dorsalis) · call
Andrew Spencer
Marma Lake, Eagle Co., Colorado, United States
Downy Woodpecker
- Picoides pubescens
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
Identification and Color: Adult Downies are black and white, with a black back, white belly, and a small patch of red on the back of the head. They have a short bill and a barred tail.
Habitat and Behavior: Downy Woodpeckers live in forests, woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas. They are year-round residents in most of their range. They forage on tree trunks and branches, using their bills and barbed tongue to peck at bark to find food.
Diet: Downies feed on insects, spiders, berries, and nuts. Downies sometimes store food by caching it in cracks in trees or other hidden spots. Can be spotted at seed and suet feeders.
What Does a Downy Woodpecker sound like?
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) · call, drumming
Thomas Magarian
2310 North Wygant Street, North Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Hairy Woodpecker
- Picoides villosus
- Size: 9″ (22.5 cm)
Identification and Color: The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized black and white bird with a long bill, a small head, and a long tail. Males have a small red patch on the back of the crown.
Habitat and Behavior: Prefers a dense forest. These woodpeckers are fairly common in wooded areas across the United States. Hairy Woodpeckers are known to be very curious and will often explore their surroundings by pecking at trees and wooded objects. (Ideally trees and not your house!)
Diet: Mainly insects and insect larvae found in trees. Will also eat berries, seeds, and nuts.
What Does a Hairy Woodpecker sound like?
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus leucothorectis) · call, interaction calls
Richard E. Webster
Snake Creek, Great Basin N.P., Nevada, United States
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
- Dryobates scalaris
- Size: 7″ (18 cm)
Identification and Color: The Ladder-backed Woodpecker has a small but straight bill with squared heads and stiff tails. They have neat black and white stripes on their bodies and wings. The underparts are white with black spots. Males have red crowns, and females have black crowns.
Habitat and Behavior: Likes hotter temperatures in the southeast United States and further into Mexico and beyond. Enjoys dry areas like deserts, brush, and thorn forests. Will forage by hopping around branches but stays hidden in trees or vegetation.
Diet: The Ladder-backed Woodpecker eats insects like caterpillars, larvae, and ants. They will also eat berries and fruit, including the fruit of cacti.
What does a Ladder-backed Woodpecker sound like?
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) · call
Sue Riffe
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, United States
LEWIS’S WOODPECKER
- Melanerpes lewis
- Size: 11″ (28 cm)
Identification and Color: They have long bodies, wings, and tails. Their bill is smaller but still sturdy. A dark red face, a black head, and a white collar. Black and green on top and a reddish-pink belly.
Habitat and Behavior: Lives between the southwest and northwest. Will live in downed or recently burned forests, river groves, or foothills. Flying slowly and deliberately, they can catch insects midair and sometimes perch in open areas.
Diet: The Lewis’s Woodpecker eats many different insects. Will also eat nuts, fruits, and berries.
What Does A Lewis’s Woodpecker Sound Like?
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) · call
Andrew Spencer
Mancos, Montezuma Co., Colorado, United States
Northern Flicker
- Colaptes auratus
- Size: 12″ (30 cm)
Identification and Color: A fairly common large woodpecker, but size is where the similarities to other woodpeckers end. The male Northern Flicker is unique with a brown back, black bars and spotted breast. All North American Flickers have white rumps. There are also two different color groups of Northern Flickers – Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted. Yellow-shafted flickers have yellow underwings. Red-shafted flickers have reddish pink underwings.
Habitat and Behavior: Northern Flickers are hole-nesting birds, often making a home in a dead tree. Can be seen hopping around the ground while foraging or latched onto a tree eyeing a spot to search for food.
Diet: Northern Flickers mainly eat insects off the ground, but will also eat berries and nuts.
What does a Northern Flicker sound like?
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) · song
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Red-naped Sapsucker
- Sphyrapicus nuchalis
- Size: 8″ (20 cm)
Identification and Color: Males and females have red crowns and black and white large striped heads. The tops of their bodies and wings are mostly black, with some white. The underparts are mottled black and white. Males have red chins, and females have white chins. A medium-sized woodpecker with a sharp bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Located throughout the west, breeding in the north and wintering in the southern half. Likes mixed forests and woodlands, generally avoiding oak or pines during the breeding season. Will climb around trees and make many holes in them.
Diet: The Red-naped Sapsucker feeds on insects, fruits, and tree sap. May also eat some berries.
What does a Red-naped Sapsucker sound like?
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) · begging call
Andrew Spencer
Fox Creek, Conejos Co., Colorado, United States
Williamson’s Sapsucker
- Sphyrapicus thyroideus
- Size: 10″ (25.5 cm)
Identification and Color: Males are more solidly black, with white marks underneath and white stripes on the head. Males have a red throat patch. Females have brownish heads and black and white barring on their bodies. Both males and females have a yellow patch on their bellies. They have long wings for their stout bodies.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in different areas of the west, they like open forests that are mixed and mature. Forages by making small holes in trees and will also eat insects off the tree bark.
Diet: The Williamson’s Sapsucker enjoys insects, sap, and fruit. Generally eats a variety of insects during the breeding season.
What does a Williamson’s Sapsucker sound like?
Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) · call
Lance A. M. Benner
Throop Peak Trail, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, California
Conclusion
In conclusion, woodpeckers are an important part of the New Mexico ecosystem. They play an important role in controlling insect populations, dispersing seeds, and providing food for other animals. Woodpeckers also provide an important source of entertainment and education for people who observe them. It is important to protect woodpecker habitats in New Mexico so that these birds can continue to thrive and provide their many benefits to the environment. By preserving woodpecker habitats, we can ensure that these birds remain a part of the New Mexico landscape for generations to come.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in New Mexico.
