Gray-breasted Woodpecker

Melanerpes hypopolius

Fairly common endemic woodpecker in desert interior habitats of southwest Mexico, especially in areas with tall columnar cacti, including towns and villages. Often in pairs or small groups. Rather drab and grayish overall with a whitish forehead patch and a densely barred black-and-white back. Male has red crown patch and female has plain gray head. No similar species in its limited range.

Identification

Like Gila woodpecker (male has round red crown patch), but pale red on cheek; short black line over eye; much darker and grayer below and on head. It is also similar to the zebra-backed birds of the same genus.

Taxonomy

Genus: Melanerpes; Family: Picidae; Order: Piciformes.

Scientific name
Melanerpes hypopolius
Authority
(Wagler, 1829)
Order
Piciformes
Family
Picidae
Genus
Melanerpes

Range and habitat

Areas of domain in Mexico include Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla. Knowledge of the behavior of this bird was widely unknown before a 1990 study out of the Cooper Ornithological Society which observed six of the birds. The study confirmed the communal roosting habits of the birds, specifically on cacti. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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