Gila Woodpecker
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Genus: Melanerpes Species: M. uropygialis
Binomial name
Melanerpes uropygialis (Baird, 1854)

The Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States. They range through southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (2658 × 1768 pixel, file size: 424 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Gila Woodpecker Public domain from USFWS This image is a work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, taken or made during the course of... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Families Galbulidae Bucconidae Capitonidae Ramphastidae Picidae Indicatoridae For prehistoric taxa, see text Six families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives. ... Genera About 30, see text The avian family Picidae includes the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks. ... Species See text. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Spencer Fullerton Baird Spencer Fullerton Baird (February 3, 1823 – August 19, 1887) was an American ornithologist and ichthyologist. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Genera Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Campethera Geocolaptes Dinopium Meiglyptes Hemicircus Micropternus Picus Mulleripicus Dryocopus Celeus Piculus Colaptes Campephilus Chrysocolaptes Reinwardtipicus Blythipicus Gecinulus Sapheopipo For other uses, see Woodpecker (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Official language(s) English Capital Carson City Largest city Las Vegas Area  Ranked 7th  - Total 110,567 sq mi (286,367 km²)  - Width 322 miles (519 km)  - Length 490 miles (788 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ...

Illustration

The back and wings of this bird are spotted and barred with a black and white zebra-like pattern. The neck, throat, belly and head are greyish-tan in color. The male has a small red cap on the top of the head. Females and juveniles are similar, but both lack the red cap of the adult male. White wing patches are prominent in flight. The dark tail has white bars on the central tail feathers. They range from 8-10 in (20-25 cm) in length. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 419 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (700 × 1002 pixel, file size: 84 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Phylum : Chordata - Class : Aves - Order : Piciformes - Family : Picidae - Species : Centurus uropygialis (Gila woodpecker) Centurus uropygialis. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 419 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (700 × 1002 pixel, file size: 84 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Phylum : Chordata - Class : Aves - Order : Piciformes - Family : Picidae - Species : Centurus uropygialis (Gila woodpecker) Centurus uropygialis. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Zebra (disambiguation). ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ...

This woodpecker's habitat consists of low desert scrub typical of the Sonoran desert. They build nests in holes made in saguaro cacti or mesquite trees. There, they typically lay 3-5 white eggs. Map of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. ... Binomial name Carnegiea gigantea Britton & Rose Synonyms Cereus giganteus Engelm. ... Species Many; see text. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ...

This woodpecker's voice is a rolling churr sound.

Trivia

• The Gila woodpecker makes its home wherever one is readily accessible. It does seem to prefer houses and saguaro cactuses. It also stores nuts in palm trees.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Melanerpes uropygialis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

• Melanerpes uropygialis (TSN 178198). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 9 February 2006.
• Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S.; Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc. (1966).

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Nature Conservancy's Species Profile: Gila Woodpecker

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Melanerpes uropygialis