Acorn Woodpecker

The Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus, is a medium-sized woodpecker.

Adults have a black head, back, wings and tail. They have a white forehead, throat, belly and rump. Their eyes are white. Adult males have a red cap starting at their forehead; females have a black area between the forehead and the cap.

Their breeding habitat is forested areas with oaks in the southern United States south to Columbia. They nest in a large cavity in a dead tree or a dead part of a tree; the pair excavates the nest. A group of adults may participate in nesting activities.

This bird is a permanent resident throughout its range. They may relocate to another area if acorns are not readily available.

These birds gather acorns; they drill holes in a dead tree and stuff acorns into them. They also pick insects off tree bark or catch insects in flight. Acorns represent a significant part of their diet; they also eat insects, fruit, seeds and sometimes tree sap.