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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