Arizona Woodpecker

Posted by Monte Stevens (Fort Collins, United States) on 27 March 2008 in Animal & Insect.

This is an Arizona Woodpecker on top of a Saguaro Cactus along the trail of Silly Mountain. Arizona Woodpeckers are nearly identical to Strickland's Woodpeckers, growing to be about 7 to 8 inches in length. Their plumage is mainly brown and white in coloration, brown on top with a dark rump with white under parts speckled with brown spots. Arizona Woodpeckers usually have white bars on their wings, and have two white stripes across their faces which join with another white bar on their neck. Male Arizona Woodpeckers also have a red patch on the nape of their head which is lacking on females. What a wonderfully beautiful bird yet they are not liked very well by residents as they destroy trees and put holes in some houses. I am now sitting at the Phoenix airport trying to get home to Denver. Flying standby does have some drawbacks.

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