Ladder Backed WoodPecker

Ladder Backed WoodPecker

A small woodpecker of arid country. Because of its size, it is able to make a living even in scrubby growth along dry washes,Forages on trees, shrubs, cacti, tree yuccas, agave stalks, tall weeds, and sometimes on ground. Male and female often forage together, concentrating on different spots: male more on trunks and big limbs, female more on outer twigs, bushes, cacti.Eats Mostly insects. Feeds on a variety of insects, including beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, true bugs, ants. Also eats some berries and fruit, including cactus fruit.

Pairs may remain more or less together throughout year. Displays used mostly for territorial defense include raising head feathers, bobbing and turning head, spreading of wings and tail, fluttering display flight. Nest site is cavity in tree (such as mesquite, hackberry, willow, oak) or in Joshua tree (a yucca) or agave stalk, sometimes in giant cactus, utility pole, fence post. Both sexes probably excavate but male may do most of work.

Credit: Instagram: elusiveswapnil