They donвЂ™t mind flocking in large groups when food is plentiful. Woodpecker enthusiasts with backyard feeders can attest to their gregarious nature. Juveniles have brown feathers on the head for their first year.Д«reeding season in New Mexico runs from April to October.

Both males and females share this feature. The head, covered in red feathers, along with a white stomach stands out in a crowded woodpecker field. ItвЂ™s physical appearance translates into easy identification. Red-headed woodpeckers rank as the most wide spread of the Melanerpes species, with a presence in almost every state from the Rocky Mountains and destinations east. In New Mexico, the species breeds mostly in mountain areas from the Mogollon mountains north, and in riparian areas (particularly along the Rio Grande Valley) from Belen north. The Avian Conservation Partners, New Mexico reports, The greenish head feathers and gray collar and chest compliment the dark wings and tail. More than any other native species, the purple to red hue on the feathers of the LewisвЂ™s Woodpecker makes it stand out. The picture shows another of the woodpeckerвЂ™s special features. Mountains and larger tracks of old growth forest, especially Ponderosa Pine suit the LewisвЂ™s Woodpecker needs. Northern New Mexico also provides suitable habitat for another less than common Melanerpes species, the LewisвЂ™s woodpecker. In New Mexico, this species is found in the lower Gila Valley in Hidalgo and Grant counties, Guadalupe Canyon, San Simon Cienaga, drainages of the Animas and Peloncillo Mountains, and Bitter Creek in western Grant County According to the Avian Conservation Partners, New Mexico, Physically, Gila Woodpeckers head feathers show a brown or light color to match the black and white barred back. Being relatively social birds, they are happy to visit back yard feeders. Their adaptability extends to their dietary habits, with a variety of fruits, grains and insects pleasing to their palates.

They make their nests in Saguaro cacti and larger desert trees. The desert regions of the south attracts the uncommon Gila Woodpecker pictured at the top of the page. However, the presence of the Golden-fronted Woodpecker is occasional and other species have limited ranges. The New Mexico Ornithological Society documents the presence of all six species in the state.

Six Melanerpes woodpecker species nest among North AmericaвЂ™s wooded areas. It lives in a variety of Southwest habitats, from cacti to forest areas, and of course back yards with peanut butter feeders.ДЄ pattern of striped feathers on the back and spots on the breast provide initial identification marks.ДЇinally, species in the Melanerpes genera provide another great example of diversity in the New Mexico woodpeckers ranks. The video shows the Ladder-backed woodpecker.

Acorn woodpecker