Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
The Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a common woodpecker found in 11 countries, weighing about 80 g. The acorn woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a length of around 20 cm (8 in), and an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz).
About the Acorn Woodpecker
The acorn woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a length of around 20 cm (8 in), and an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz). It is found across Central America, as well as North into the western United States and South into parts of Colombia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult acorn woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly and rump. The eyes are initially dark in fledglings, turning to white within a few months. There is a small part on the small of their backs where there are some greenish feathers. The bird is mostly black, with adult males have a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and drop a foot or so.
What the Acorn Woodpecker sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
When to see it
The Acorn Woodpecker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Acorn Woodpecker?
- The adult acorn woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly and rump. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Acorn Woodpecker?
- The Acorn Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 80 g.
- Where can you see an Acorn Woodpecker?
- The Acorn Woodpecker occurs in 11 countries, including the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
- What does an Acorn Woodpecker sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Acorn Woodpecker on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Acorn Woodpecker?
- The Acorn Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Golden-fronted Woodpecker and the Gila Woodpecker.
- Is the Acorn Woodpecker endangered?
- The Acorn Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Acorn Woodpecker for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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