Gila Woodpecker
Melanerpes uropygialis
About This Species
A noisy, conspicuous desert bird, it excavates nest cavities in saguaro cacti and large trees, and is often heard drumming or giving sharp calls before it is seen. Look for it clinging to saguaro trunks or visiting backyard feeders and hummingbird feeders for sugar water in the arid Southwest, with activity concentrated in the cooler morning and late afternoon hours, especially during spring nesting season.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watch from a comfortable distance of 10 metres or more rather than approaching a nest cavity directly, since disturbance near the nest hole can cause adults to abandon eggs or chicks.
- In the United States this species and its nest are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to disturb active nests or handle birds without a permit.
- Avoid tapping on saguaros or trees with visible nest holes.
LCAvesPiciformesPicidae
Seasonal Activity
862,601 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
Photo
(c) Tony Doty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Doty
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.