Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827)

Picidae — Woodpeckers

Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus, breeds from north-west USA through Middle America to Colombia and belongs to the woodpecker family Picidae in the order Piciformes. It is a forest bird linked with oak woodland in coastal and foothill areas, and it uses dead trees or dead parts of trees for nesting. A notable feature of the species is its reliance on acorns, which it keeps in drilled storage holes in granaries or storage trees. It was first described by Swainson in 1827.

Order
Piciformes
Family
Picidae — Woodpeckers
Breeding range
North America, Middle America, South America: nw USA to Colombia
Acorn Woodpecker
© Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker

Tours where you can spot this bird

2 tours in Costa Rica 1, United States 1

Costa Rica Escape Birding Tour
Costa Rica Escape Birding Tour
Costa Rica / San José Group tour 9 days

A nine-day Costa Rica birding circuit from Caribbean lowland forest to the highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, with toucans, hummingbirds and ...

From USD 6,435 Next: Jan 6, 2027
Southeast Arizona Sky Islands Custom Birding Trip
Southeast Arizona Sky Islands Custom Birding Trip
United States / Tucson Private tour 1 day

A private Southeast Arizona birding and nature outing with Matt Griffiths, customized for the Sky Islands, target interests and available ti...