How does the need for nest defense alter foraging behavior? snakes and large birds although many other species of animal will prey on the woodpecker too. You will find much more information that will be exciting to you. 7.) It makes its own home in cacti by pecking away at it until a hole is left. Abandoned woodpecker holes … Did you know…? Gila Woodpeckers eat mainly insects, but they will also eat cactus fruits, mistletoe berries and other seasonal fruits. Conservation of this species is dependent on the maintenance of functional ecosystems that provide the full range of resources upon which the species depends. Predators Predators of the gila woodpecker can include bobcats, coyotes, hawks, housecats, snakes and fox. They have also been know to love the fruit of the cacti out in the desert. They also have been known to steal dog food from backyard porches. The excavated cavity is called a "boot". For more insight on the Gila Woodpecker, just keep reading. 7. Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) This common Sonoran Desert woodpecker makes nest cavities in the sides of saguaros inbetween the skin and the inner ribs (the outer cortex) of the cactus. They have adapted to human populations by learning to hang onto backyard hummingbird feeders and lick up the sugary water. NPS photo. These holes heal and become the familiar “boots,” nesting sites for the woodpeckers and later for other birds such as Elf Owls. With the saguaro tissue serving as insulation, these cavities provide safety from predators and refuge from extreme temperatures. Gila Woodpecker . Acorn woodpeckers, like many other species, are threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Woodpeckers will loudly bang on metal chimneys and pipes to state their territories and to attract a lady friend. Woodpeckers have very … The inside of a cactus provides a safe, cool place for the woodpeckers to raise their young. Most species of woodpecker inhabit forest and woodland areas although oddly enough, there are a few species of woodpecker that live in areas such as deserts and on hillsides, where there are no trees at all. Geographical Distribution: Gila Woodpeckers are distributed in the regions of southeast California, southern Arizona, southwest Nevada, and some parts of Mexico. 8.) They love to eat bugs, any kind of bugs. The main predators of the woodpecker include wild cats, foxes, rats. The Gila Woodpecker and Gilded Flicker, however, peck holes into the saguaro, creating new niches for themselves and for other desert dwellers. In the Sonoran Desert they often make these cavities in saguaro cactus. Home Woodpeckers nest in cavities that they excavate with their long beak. Adaptations: This species of woodpecker is characterized by having very flexible head and neck muscles, a long, pointed beak, and a long tongue that can withstand the pressure of pecking into hard materials like trees. The Gila Woodpecker is a cool looking bird with a zebra pattern on its wings. While adult Gila Woodpeckers forage, nestlings are vulnerable to intruders & predators (e.g., other Gila Woodpeckers or Common Flickers attempting to take over the nest site). Predators of the Gila woodpecker are snakes, coyotes, bobcats, hawks, housecats, and foxes. Competition for nest cavities by non-native species is an ongoing threat in urbanized areas. Gila woodpeckers can be found from southeast California, southwest Nevada, southern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, to central Mexico.