Golden-cheeked woodpecker

The golden-cheeked woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is endemic to Mexico, in the western, and southwestern coastal strip on the Pacific Ocean, and the western bordering regions of mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. They are distributed in the coast from Sinaloa to Colima.

Golden-cheeked woodpecker
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species:
M. chrysogenys
Binomial name
Melanerpes chrysogenys
(Vigors, 1839)

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and heavily degraded former forest.

Description

Black-and-white barred back, rump, and untacs; mostly pale gray underparts with yellow-tinged belly; small black eye patch; faint yellowish wash on ear patch (cheeks); red crown; yellow forehead and nape. Female, similar but crown pale gray and black, not red.

Food habits

Their diet consists mainly in beetles, ants, fruits and seeds. They also eat insects, especially larvae.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Melanerpes chrysogenys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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