This western woodpecker has a bold facial pattern. Black surrounds the base of the bill. The forehead, front half of the cheek, and throat are yellowish white. The area surrounding the eye and the back half of the cheek are black, highlighting the white eye. The back of the crown is all red on males. Females have a black mid-crown and red at the back of the crown. The back, wings and tail appear solid black at rest. The upper breast is black, with black streaks extending down the sides. In flight, the rump is white, and a large white patch flashes at the base of the primaries. Note that the endemic population in Baja California Sur has dark eyes.

Length: 23 (cm) Wingspan: 43 (cm)

Voice:

A boisterous WAKE-up, WAKE-up, and a series of weki-weki-weki-weki-weki. Drumming is a series of evenly spaced taps.

Habitat:

Mixed oak woodlands and oak savannah.

Behavior:

Most populations nest communally. Acorns are stored individually in thousands of small holes drilled in trees, buildings, or utility poles. They will aggressively protect acorn caches and have been known to attack and kill other woodpeckers.

Feeding:

Acorns, other nuts and seeds. Flycatches and gleans bark for insects.