# Gila Woodpecker (*Melanerpes uropygialis*) The Gila Woodpecker is a fun bird that loves to drum on trees and cacti! With its bright colors and unique sounds, it's a cheerful part of the desert landscape. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Gila Woodpecker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gila_Woodpecker_%2833899707672%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gila_Woodpecker_%2833899707672%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Gila Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with a pale tan body and striking black and white barring on its wings and tail. Males sport a distinctive red patch on the crown of their head. This unique pattern helps it blend into desert environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Melanerpes ## Interesting facts - A male Gila Woodpecker signals his territory by loudly drumming on trees! - Baby Gila Woodpeckers are called "fledglings" after they leave their cozy nests! - These smart birds create homes in cacti that other desert animals later use! - They love to eat juicy cactus fruits and even sip nectar from desert flowers! ## Special abilities - **Cactus Carpenter:** Gila Woodpecker can carve nests and roost holes into saguaro cacti because of its strong beak, providing shelter. - **Desert Dweller:** Gila Woodpecker has an ability to thrive in hot desert environments because its diet includes cactus fruit for moisture. - **Sticky Snatcher:** Gila Woodpecker can extract insects from deep crevices because its long, barbed, and sticky tongue helps it grab prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-25 cm - **Wingspan:** 40-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.09 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days ## Diet & Feeding A desert omnivore, it enjoys insects, fruits, seeds, and even nectar from plants for energy and hydration. - **Primary Foods:** insects, cactus fruits, berries, seeds, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Saguaro Cactus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saguaro-cactus) (*Carnegiea gigantea*) — Nests and roosts inside - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Prey for desert hawks - **Depends on:** [Honey Mesquite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honey-mesquite) (*Prosopis glandulosa*) — Eats seeds and uses for perching - **Eats:** [Prickly Pear Cactus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prickly-pear-cactus) (*Opuntia engelmannii*) — Consumes its sweet fruit ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch from a distance and don't disturb their nests in trees or cacti. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gila Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gila Woodpecker? 20-25 cm ### What is Gila Woodpecker's wingspan? 40-45 cm ### How much does Gila Woodpecker weigh? 0.05-0.09 kg ### How long does Gila Woodpecker live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Gila Woodpecker move? 35 km/h ### What does Gila Woodpecker eat? A desert omnivore, it enjoys insects, fruits, seeds, and even nectar from plants for energy and hydration. ### Where is Gila Woodpecker usually found? Desert ## Where to spot - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Desert Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-botanical-garden) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yuma-territorial-prison-state-historic-park) — Arizona, US · State Park [View all places to see Gila Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gila-woodpecker) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Gila Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gila-woodpecker)