Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys chrysogenys, Male. Photograph taken in greater Los Ėbanos area, Sinaloa, March 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys flavinuchus, Females. Photographs taken in the greater Zihuatanejo area, Guerrero, March 2019. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuatanejo.
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys flavinuchus, Males. Photographs taken in the greater Zihuatanejo area, Guerrero, March 2019. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuatanejo.
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys flavinuchus, Female. Photograph taken in the greater Puerto Vallarta area, Guerrero, March 2014. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys flavinuchus, Male. Photograph taken within the greater Puerto Vallarta area, Jalisco, December 2021. Photographs courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California. Identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.
Background and Identification
The Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys, is a member of the Picidae Family of Woodpeckers. Two subspecies of Melanerpes chrysogenys are currently recognized with both subspecies being found in Mexico. The chrysogenys subspecies is found in coastal regionsof southern Sinaloa south to Nayarit and the flavinuchus subspecies is found along the southwest coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero.They are small in stature.
Habitat and Geographical Range
The Golden-cheeked Woodpecker are found in the middle and upper levels of arid and semi-humid forest, plantations, and in open areas with patches of trees. They feed as individuals or in pairs and consume ants, beetles, and seasonal fruits and seeds.
They are Endemic to Mexico and are found within the Pacific Slope from Sinaloa to Oaxaca and as far west as Puebla at elevations below 1,500 m (4,900 feet).
Common Misidentifications
Conservation Status
From a conservation perspective the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations.