Golden-fronted woodpkr
Melanerpes aurifrons
Identification Tips:
- Medium-sized woodpecker
- Pale gray head, throat, breast, and belly
- Yellow nape patch and yellow spot above bill
- Back strongly barred with black and white
- Black wings barred and spotted with white
- White bases to the primaries appear as white crescent in the hand
in flight
- White rump and uppertail coverts
- Dark tail with dark central retricies
Adult male:
- Small red cap on top of head
Similar species:
Gila Woodpecker is darker brown about the head and belly,
lacks the yellow nape and spot above bill, and has black and white
barring on the central retricies. Red-bellied Woodpecker overlaps
in range and hybrids are known so caution should be exercised when
making identifications where they cooccur. Note the Red-bellied's
red nape and barred central retricies in all plumages.