Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Acorn Woodpeckers are wonderful birds to watch. They seem friendly as they go about their business, perhaps because their faces remind us of clowns. The red caps on their heads may appear raised in alert status (upper left photo) if they suspect an unwanted intrusion. They love oak trees for the acorns. Each year in the fall they will use one tree (usually the same one) as storage for their winter food supply, drilling holes as necessary (upper right photo). While I often see just one at a time, it is not unusual to see them in small groups. The photos on the left were taken at the San Leandro Reservoir, access by permit through EBMUD's Valle Vista Staging Area (upper photo July 16, 2013, lower one on April 11, 2014). The photos on the right were taken in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, CA on January 12, 2015. (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)