Gila Woodpecker Guarding the Bird Feeder — Image by kenne
— kenne
This Gila Woodpecker Thinks He’s A Hummingbird — Image by kenne
Gila woodpeckers have been coming to the hummingbird feeder for several weeks now, and when I see him, I frighten him away.
This morning I decided to get a photo. This is because woodpeckers are so adept at holding on to most anything.
They can do this because of two front and two back toes (zygodactyl toes). This clever foot formation,
which can look like an X or a K, allows birds to grip things more efficiently. Add the fact that the tongues of woodpeckers
can extend as much as 2 inches past the tips of their bills, and they like sweet things, such as fruit.
Conclusion: this feeder is as much a woodpecker feeder as a hummingbird feeder.
— kenne
Gila Woodpecker On A Saguaro — Image by kenne
Gila Woodpecker — Images by kenne
Gila Woodpeckers Frequently Visit Our Patio (July 10, 2022) — Images by kenne
Having Water and Food Available Daily Attracts Many Birds
“Gila Woodpeckers are grayish brown birds with brilliant black-and-white barring on the wings, back, and tail.
In flight, the outer wings are black with a crescent-shaped white patch at the base of the primary feathers.
Males have a red patch in the center of the crown.” –– Source: allaboutbirds.org
Dead Gila Woodpecker — Image by kenne
— kenne
Gila Woodpecker — Image by kenne
— kenne
Birds In The Treetop — Gila Woodpecker, American Kestrel and Five American Goldfinches (October 6, 2021) — Image by kenne
We walked with an early morning Audubon lead bird walk group through the Sweetwater Wetlands a few days ago. (1/800 s at f/10, ISO 400)
The tree was about 100 years away, photographed using my 28/300 mm lens.
Gila Woodpecker On Saguaro Cactus In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
— kenne
Gila Woodpecker — Images by kenne
Gila Woodpecker — Images by kenne
Interesting Fact:
There are several ways woodpeckers have adapted to all the head-banging,
including having a long tongue that wraps around their brain. — kenne
Gila Woodpecker On A Saguaro Cactus — Images by kenne
― Tom Robbins, from Still Life with Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker in Desert Heat — Image by kenne
A medium size woodpecker, the Gila Woodpecker often makes his/her home in saguaro cactus — Image by kenne
Last Friday I had planned on hiking up to Seven Falls, but while driving to the Sabino Canyon Center, I decided to walk the trails near the center to photography the saguaro cactus in bloom.
While some saguaros may not yet have buds many do and are blooming daily. Now that most of the desert’s wildflowers have come and gone, these beautiful cactus blossoms are the current desert flower show.
These creamy-white, 3-inch-wide flowers with yellow centers usually bloom May and June. However, like most of the Sonoran Desert flowers this year, the blooming season has been much earlier.
Clustered near the ends of branches, the blossoms open during cooler desert nights, during which time the blossoms are visited by nectar-loving bats.
Each flower will bloom only once, closing by the next midday.
Before closing by midday the white-winged dove is a primary pollinator, along with the gila woodpecker and the gilded flicker.
Western Bluebirds Facing the Morning Sun
Cactus Wren in a Phainopela’s Favorite Place
Gila Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker — Images by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 