Gila Woodpecker
The Gila Woodpecker is a resident of Saguaro forests, living year round in Southern Arizona, and western Mexico, including Baja California. The back is barred black and white, with the rest being brown. The male has a red cap, the female does not. Above we see a male with his red cap just visible, sitting on a telephone pole at Sweetwater Wetlands in December of 2015. Below a female likely with fruit from a Date Palm at Agua Caliente in November of 2016. Note that the Saguaro she is sitting on is in the non-blooming November mode.
Below a male and a female also at Agua Caliente in May of 2016, with the Saguaro in spring bloom. The parking lot is a great place to see these birds.
Gila Woodpecker's nest in holes in Saguaro cactus or trees. Below we can see a male peeking his head out of a nest in March of 2017, same area of Agua Caliente. Not the best image - captured at some distance at high ISO and enlarged.
