Home >> Hobbies >> Birding

Gila Woodpecker Facts

The gila is a small species of woodpecker found in the Sonoran Desert. Scientists categorize it with the Latin name Melanerpes uropygialis. Like other woodpeckers, the thick neck muscles, pointed beak and strong head enable the gila to bore nests out of trees. These small birds have lived up to 10 years in zoos and aviaries but have generally shorter lifespans in their native environment.

Identification
- Ornithologists and birders identify the gila by a number of distinguishing features. These woodpeckers are small, weighing about 3.5 ounces and having a length of 8 to 10 inches and a wingspan of about 16 inches. Both sexes of the gila sport tan colored feathers on their head, neck, chest and torso. The gila has a white rump, white patches under the wings and a dark colored bill. Their backs and wings feature a black and white striping pattern; this pattern continues, albeit sparsely, on the mostly white upper tail coverts and dark tail. Male gilas have a patch of red feathers on the top of their head; this patch appears smaller on young male gilas and grows larger as these birds mature.
Habitat
- The gila's natural habitat in the Sonoran desert spans across California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and down into the central states of Mexico. These birds burrow nests into the saguaro cacti that comprise much of the foliage in the Sonoran desert. Gilas formerly lived in dense foliage areas as well, including forests found along the Colorado in southeastern California. However, the decimation of these forested areas displaced the gila. As human habitats have expanded into the desert, the gila has adapted, forming nests in homes and urban dwellings.
Food
- The gilas enjoy an omnivorous diet. These birds feast on the fruit of the saguaro cactus year-round and eat the berries of the mistletoe plant in winter. They prey on insects and will prey on the nests of other birds, including the yellow warbler and Lucy's warbler. Given the opportunity, gilas scavenge as well, eating from bird feeders, trash and dog food dishes. A number of desert and domestic animals prey on the gila woodpecker, including bobcats, foxes, snakes, domesticated cats and hawks.
Mating
- The male gila builds a nest, usually in a saguaro cactus. He then waits several months for the interior of the nest to dry. Breeding season occurs in late April and into early May. On average, female gilas lay three to four white eggs, and as many as seven. Eggs require 12 to 14 days to hatch and both males and females tend to the eggs during this period. Owls and starlings occasionally take over the nests.

Birding