![]() ![]() bairdi Ridgway, 1881 – Oregon (USA) to north Baja California (Mexico) Within Melanerpes the acorn woodpecker is sister to a clade containing two South American species: the white woodpecker ( Melanerpes candidus) and the white-fronted woodpecker ( Melanerpes cactorum). The acorn woodpecker is one of 24 species now placed in the genus Melanerpes that was introduced by Swainson in 1832. The type locality is Temascaltepec in Mexico. The specific epithet combines the Latin formica meaning "ant" with -vorus meaning "eating". The acorn woodpecker was formally described in 1827 by the English naturalist William John Swainson under the binomial name Picus formicivorus from a specimen collected in Mexico. As shown by the National Audubon Society’s climate scenarios map, an increase of +3 degrees Celsius could result in population loss across part of the species’ range, but climate change might provide favorable conditions elsewhere.The acorn woodpecker ( Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, 21 cm (8.3 in) long, with an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz). In addition to loss or degradation of mature oak trees, other threats to present population levels include slow oak forest regeneration, the introduction of European Starlings and–depending on location–a warming climate. While Washington’s populations are considered critically imperiled by Nature Serve, it is not a state-listed species since it is considered a peripheral species due to range expansion. Nature Serve’s overall species ranking is G5 (secure) but they rank the species as vulnerable in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lists Acorn Woodpeckers as a sensitive species in the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains due to conversion and loss of oak habitats. As a species highly associated with oak habitats, there is concern for the species within regional or local areas and ongoing habitat loss and other environmental change elevate concerns about the species. While not the only bird species to utilize or store acorns, this species certainly takes it to the extreme!Įven with a global breeding population estimated at 5 million birds, there is still a need to conserve this iconic woodpecker. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, these storage areas may have up to 50,000 acorn holes in them.īird Note also tells us that utility poles, fence posts, or the sides of barns will do in a pinch when a tree isn’t available. They spend a significant amount of their time associated with granary trees–trees in which they bore holes or use natural notches and cracks to store acorns. ![]() While other woodpeckers are usually seeking insects when they drill into trees, the Acorn Woodpecker feeds mostly on flying or terrestrial insects, seeds, and fruits as well as high-caloric acorns which they store for winter. In a win-win arrangement, the woodpeckers are also helping distribute acorns that may seed new oak trees. In California and Oregon, and slightly into Washington, they are associated with oaks in the genus Quercus, often the Oregon white oak or the black oak. They prefer oak woodlands with a more open understory and rely on mature oaks for both food storage and nest sites. The Acorn Woodpecker is an oak woodland specialist, relying on oaks for food, shelter and nest cavities.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |