Feeder Birds: Woodpeckers
(click on photos to enlarge)
As promised, I’m continuing the thread about birds that come to our feeders here on the edge of Tucson Mountain Park.
When we first moved into this house, slightly over a year ago, the first feeders that went up were the hummingbird feeders. Almost immediately, they were a big hit with both the adult and juvenile hummers (more on that in a later post). As time went on, the feeders were discovered and then commandeered by the Gila Woodpeckers (Melanerpes uropygialis), and soon followed by Gilded Flickers (Colaptes chrysoides).
Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
Gilded Flicker with a sweet tooth
At first, I was delighted to see these birds at the feeders until I realized they were draining five of them in a day and pretty much keeping the hummers away. We have far more Gilas than Gildeds. In fact, my high count for Gilas in the yard at one time is 14! I’m guessing the “word” has gotten around. I finally took the feeders down in the spring and have just recently put them back out. Either the woodpeckers have forgotten about them, or have lost their desire for sugar water at this time of the year. Whatever the reason, the hummingbirds are able to feed almost unencumbered now.
Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers are primary cavity nesters meaning they excavate their own nest cavities and the plant of choice is the Saguaro Cactus. A lot of secondary nesters take advantage of old woodpecker holes including Elf and Screech Owls, Purple Martins, and American Kestrels as well as some undesirable birds like European Starlings and House Sparrows. Haven’t seen a starling here but the House Sparrow numbers are obnoxious. And to think that in 19 years in Maryland I never had a House Sparrow anywhere near the nest boxes or feeders. Hope this luck continues in our new place in Cochise County.
Gila Woodpecker posing on a Saguaro Cactus
Gila Woodpeckers seem to be quite the opportunists. There doesn’t seem to be much they don’t like to eat. Besides the hummingbird feeders, they frequent the sunflower feeder, the quail block, the suet feeder (in the cooler months), oranges that were initially put out for orioles, and even pieces of melon rind!
Male Gila Woodpecker feasting on sugar water
Female Gila Woodpecker getting her share of sweet nectar
They also like black oil sunflower seed…
…..and oranges
Partaking of the sweet Saguaro fruit
Despite their constant presence in our yard, we were disappointed that neither of the woodpecker species nested in our Saguaro. It has plenty of holes but none occupied this year.
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