Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus

The *Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)* is a resident of oak woodlands across parts of the western United States including many parts of Oregon and California as well as New Mexico, Arizona, and west Texas. The species occurs southward through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. Its distinctive "clown-face" as well as its rollicking, churring, vocalizations, are familiar to people who live or visit within the range and habitat of this bird. This is a social species and groups of these birds often store acorns in trunks of trees for later use. The male shown here was in Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., Texas, in May, 1989, and was photographed with a Minolta X570 body and a Sigma 400mm lens on Kodachrome 200 film.
The female shown here was a winter visitor in El Paso, El Paso Co., Texas, in December, 1989, and was photographed with the same equipment as the previous shot.
On the right are two shots of a tree which was being used as a granary by a group of Acorn Woodpeckers. These shots were taken in Lower Lake, Lake Co., California, in October, 1997.

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Davis Mountains State Park, Jeff Davis Co., Texas 24 August 2016
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Davis Mountains Resort, Davis Mountains, west of Ft. Davis, Jeff Davis Co., Texas 27 September 2017