Woodpeckers Picidae
There are 29 genera, of which 5 are so far described below.
Of the 218 species within the family, three are critically endangered: the Okinawa Woodpecker
Dendrocopus noguchii, the Kaempfer's Woodpecker
Celeus obrieni, the Imperial Woodpecker
Campephilus imperialis, and the almost mythical and now probably extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis.
Another seven species are listed as vulnerable, and fifteen others are
near-threatened. Woodpeckers are distinctive birds that are found in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Most have four toes,
but some species have only three.
Melanerpes
There are 23 species in this genus. The Guadeloupe Woodpecker Melanerpes herminieri and Red-headed Woodecker Melanerpes
erythrocephalus are both considered near-threatened.
The clown-faced Acorn Woodpeckers Melanerpes formicivorus are found in forested areas from northwestern Oregon, south to the Andes of
Colombia. As there name implies, they are particularly dependant on acorns as a major source of their diet. Breeding groups will drill holes in dead trees
and stuff them with acorns, thereby creating a larder. This bird was photographed feeding on pyracantha berries at the Cave Creek Ranch, Portal, Arizona, USA.
Sphyrapicus
There are 4 species in this genus.
Williamson's Sapsuckers Sphyrapicus thyroideus are found in mountainous forested areas of western North America from British Columbia, south
to northern Mexico. The male and female differ so much in appearance, that they were both considered seperate species by early naturalists. This juvenile
male was photographed in the White Mountains, Arizona, USA.
Picoides
There are 13 species in this genus. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis is considered vulnerable.
Recently split from the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, the American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis
is found from Alaska and Canada, south to the western USA. They are attracted to recently burned patches of coniferous forests and other dead trees that
have suffered insect outbreaks. This male American Three-toed Woodpecker was photographed near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.
Colaptes
There are 9 species within this genus. The Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae is considered vulnerable.
The Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides was until recently, lumped with the Northern Flicker.
The Gilded Flicker has a very limited distribution in mainly Sonoran desert from extreme southeastern California and southern Arizona,
south into northwestern Mexico. This male Gilded Flicker was photographed at the Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Campephilus
There are 11 species in this genus. The Imperial Woodpecker Campephilus imperialis and the now probably extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Campephilus principalis are both critically endangered. The Guayaquil Woodpecker Campephilus gayaquilensis
is near-threatened.
Like the other members of this genus, the Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis is a large woodpecker. They are fairly common in
lowland forests from northern Mexico, south to western Panama. This individual was photographed at the Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
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