Learn 100 Common Valley Birds Blog Post #34 (Species 54/100)

Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing them by name only adds to our pleasure. In California’s Central Valley, with only a little bit of effort, anyone can learn 100 local bird species. Especially since on a daily basis Valley Residents come in contact with at least a dozen species that most recognize, but may not know the name of. The intent of this blog is for followers to learn about and be able to identify 100 common valley birds.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus
Name roots: (E. acorn, its favorite food) (Gr. Melos, “black”Gr. Herpes, “a creeper”;
L. formica, “an ant”,L. voro, “to devour” )

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Acorn Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a straight, spike-like bill and a stiff, wedge-shaped tail used for support as the bird clings to tree trunks. It has a red-crowned, glossy black and white head, white eyes, and white rump and wing patches.

One interesting fact about the Acorn Woodpecker is that it lives in large groups in western oak woodlands and stores thousands of acorns each year by jamming them into specially made holes in trees. This behavior is known as hoarding and the tree where the acorns are stored is called a granary tree.

DISTRIBUTION STATUS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

The Acorn Woodpecker is a Common Yearround Resident in the Central Valley and can be found in almost any area with Oak Trees.