Arizona woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arizona woodpecker |
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| Genus: |
Leuconotopicus
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| Species: |
arizonae
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The Arizona woodpecker (Leuconotopicus arizonae) is a cool bird found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It lives in places like southern Arizona and New Mexico. You can also find it in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in western Mexico. This woodpecker likes to live in mountain areas that are part of the Sonoran Desert, often called "Sky Islands."
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Arizona woodpeckers are about 7 to 8 inches long. That's about the size of a small ruler! They have mostly brown and white feathers. Their back is brown, and their belly is white with small brown spots.
Look closely, and you'll see white stripes on their wings. They also have two white stripes on their face. These stripes connect to another white bar on their neck.
Males and Females
It's easy to tell the difference between male and female Arizona woodpeckers. Male woodpeckers have a bright red patch on the back of their head. Female woodpeckers do not have this red patch.
What Does It Sound Like?
The Arizona woodpecker has a unique call. It sounds like a sharp, squeaky keech. They also make a rattling sound. This rattle call goes down in pitch and sounds a bit grating.
How Scientists Study Woodpeckers
Scientists group living things to understand them better. The Arizona woodpecker used to be thought of as the same species as Strickland's woodpecker. But now, scientists know they are two different species.
The Arizona woodpecker lives in the northern areas. Strickland's woodpecker lives further south in central Mexico. Some scientists still put this bird in a different group called Picoides.
See also
In Spanish: Carpintero de Arizona para niños
