Drybates arizonae

Arizona Woodpecker

Family: Picidae · Class: Aves · Order: Piciformes

The Arizona Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker endemic to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Adults measure approximately 19-23 cm (7.5-9.0 inches) in length with a wingspan of 36-38 cm (14-15 inches). Males are distinguished by a red patch on the back of the head, while females lack this red marking. Both sexes display a distinctive brown back and wings, contrasting with white underparts heavily marked with black spots and bars. The face shows a prominent white stripe above and below the eye, separated by a dark stripe through the eye. The bill is relatively long and straight, typical of woodpeckers adapted for bark gleaning. The Arizona Woodpecker has a limited range in North America, occurring primarily in the sky island mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. In California, the species is extremely rare, with only occasional vagrant records reported. The core range extends southward through the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. Within Arizona, the species is found in the Chiricahua, Huachuca, Santa Rita, and Pinaleño mountain ranges, typically at elevations between 1,200-2,800 meters (4,000-9,200 feet). This species is strongly associated with Madrean oak woodland and pine-oak forests of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico (Birds of the World). Arizona Woodpeckers show a particular affinity for mature oak trees, including Arizona oak, Emory oak, and Mexican blue oak. They also utilize pine-oak associations and occasionally pure pine stands. The species requires large, mature trees for nesting and foraging, making it sensitive to habitat fragmentation and forest management practices. Arizona Woodpeckers are primarily bark gleaners rather than excavators, spending considerable time searching for insects on bark surfaces and in crevices. Their diet consists mainly of beetle larvae, ants, and other arthropods found on or beneath bark. Unlike many woodpecker species, they rarely drum and instead use soft calls for communication. Breeding typically occurs from April through July, with pairs excavating nest cavities in dead or dying oak trees. Females lay 3-4 white eggs, and both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing. The species is generally non-migratory, maintaining year-round territories in suitable habitat. The Arizona Woodpecker is designated as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Arizona and is listed as a Partners in Flight Watch List species due to declining populations and habitat threats. The species received a combined vulnerability score of 16, placing it as a Level 2 species of conservation concern for New Mexico (Avian Conservation Partners-NM). Primary threats include habitat loss and fragmentation due to development, altered fire regimes, and climate change effects on montane forest ecosystems. The species' limited range and habitat specificity make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining mature oak woodland habitat and implementing forest management practices that preserve the large trees essential for nesting and foraging.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.