# Acorn Woodpecker

*Melanerpes formicivorus*

A single granary tree can contain up to 50,000 holes, each meticulously drilled to hold a specific acorn.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Piciformes › Picidae › Melanerpes
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Oak woodlands, mixed evergreen forests, and suburban parks with mature oak stands.
- **Diet:** Primarily acorns, supplemented by flying insects, sap, and fruit.
- **Range:** Western United States, Mexico, Central America, Northern Andes
- **Size:** 19–23 cm length; 65–90 g weight
- **Lifespan:** Up to 16 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat loss, removal of dead trees (snags), and competition for nesting cavities from invasive species like European Starlings.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and fascinating to watch. Observe from a distance to avoid disrupting their complex social behaviors. Do not attempt to feed them or disturb their granary trees, as these are vital for their winter survival.

## About

The acorn woodpecker ( Melanerpes formicivorus ) is a medium-sized woodpecker, 21 cm (8.3 in) long, with an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz).

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/39fb326d-2ede-4ab0-80db-b1c6dfb7ca0a
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/18209
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanerpes formicivorus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/3085/medium.jpg (Dmitry Mozzherin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.