Acorn Woodpecker

[ranunculus]

This hansom, clownish fellow comes to the bird bath frequently. Actually there is a whole family that comes in, but the individuals are hard to tell apart.


Acorn woodpeckers live in extended family groups.  They nest in tree cavities with the whole family piling in together. Uncles, aunts and last year's siblings often help raise the breeding pair's brood. Recent research shows that if a nesting territory becomes available a young bird will grab the opportunity to pair up and take over the space. Big fights between competing birds can ensue that go on, sometimes for several days.
They are fun birds to have around.

Comments

[cmcmck]

What a fine looking chap!

[turlough]

What a cool-looking guy! And they do indeed sounds like really interesting birds to have in your neighbourhood.

[shirebound]

What a great shot of a great looking bird. Thanks for the interesting information!

[yourlibrarian]

Ooh, handsome indeed!

[holyschist]

My very favorite woodpeckers! They don't always have breeding pairs as such - there may be multiple cobreeding males and multiple females (often 3 males and 2 females, but up to 7 males-3 females has been recorded) in addition to 'helpers.' The males may be brothers and the females may be sisters, but they are almost never related across sex and seem to have systems to generally avoid incest (paper). I love how complex their social structures are, and they are so fun to watch! So envious you get them at your bird bath!

[ranunculus]

I couldn't remember all of what I've read about them, Which is pretty much exactly as you say, and most of my reference material is 100 miles away...

We used to watch a family line up on a semi-horizontal branch bobbing and chatting and one by one going down to take a bath in the sprinkler. So fun. That tree is long gone, now they line up on the power pole which is much harder to see.

[highlyeccentric]

I love him!

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Dapper! :) Lovely photo.

[ranunculus]

Thanks!

[earthspirits]

What a great pic!