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| | *''M. a. veraecrucis'': Atlantic slope: Eastern Mexico (Veracruz) to north-eastern [[Guatemala]] | | *''M. a. veraecrucis'': Atlantic slope: Eastern Mexico (Veracruz) to north-eastern [[Guatemala]] |
| | *''M. a. dubius'': Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) to north-eastern Guatemala and [[Belize]] | | *''M. a. dubius'': Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) to north-eastern Guatemala and [[Belize]] |
| - | [[Image:Golden-fronted Woodpecker P1080070.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''dubius'' <br />Photo by {{user|njlarsen|njlarsen}}<br />Hazienda Chichén, Yucatan, [[Mexico]], May 2012]] | + | [[Image:Golden-fronted Woodpecker P1080070.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies ''dubius'' <br />Photo by {{user|njlarsen|njlarsen}}<br />Hazienda Chichén, Yucatan, [[Mexico]], May 2012]] |
| | *''M. a. leei'': Cozumel Island (off eastern Mexico) | | *''M. a. leei'': Cozumel Island (off eastern Mexico) |
| | *''M. a. turneffensis'': Turneffe Islands (off Belize) | | *''M. a. turneffensis'': Turneffe Islands (off Belize) |
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| | A hybrid zone occurs with the closely related [[Hoffmann's Woodpecker]] in southern [[Honduras]]. Some authors have suggested that they should be considered as one species. Other authors have suggested treating some of the subspecies as separate species, eg the ''santacruzi'' group (from Yucatan Peninsula including Honduras and Guatemala, and from surrounding islands) as Velasquez's Woodpecker. | | A hybrid zone occurs with the closely related [[Hoffmann's Woodpecker]] in southern [[Honduras]]. Some authors have suggested that they should be considered as one species. Other authors have suggested treating some of the subspecies as separate species, eg the ''santacruzi'' group (from Yucatan Peninsula including Honduras and Guatemala, and from surrounding islands) as Velasquez's Woodpecker. |
| - | [[Image:Golden-fronted_Woodpecker_Yucatan_by_kstennett.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female of Yucatan form<br />Photo by {{user|kstennett|kstennett}}<br />Merida, Yucatan, [[Mexico]], November 2010]] | + | [[Image:Golden-fronted_Woodpecker_Yucatan_by_kstennett.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female, Subspecies ''dubius''<br />Photo by {{user|kstennett|kstennett}}<br />Merida, Yucatan, [[Mexico]], November 2010]] |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| - | | |
| | Open woods in dry country and river bottoms with trees.<BR>This familiar woodpecker is common in the parks and shade trees of central and west [[Texas]] towns and cities. | | Open woods in dry country and river bottoms with trees.<BR>This familiar woodpecker is common in the parks and shade trees of central and west [[Texas]] towns and cities. |
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Revision as of 18:36, 3 June 2012
Male
Photo by
cfagyalRoma, on the Rio Grande in southern
Texas,
USA, April 2004
- Melanerpes aurifrons
Includes: Velasquez's Woodpecker
Identification
9 1/2" (24 cm)
Barred with black and white above and buff below, nape orange; forecrown yellow.
Female lacks red on crown, but has orange nape. It is the most commonly observed woodpecker in much of Mexico and northern Central America.
Variation
In southern part of its range the nape is red and not yellow, and in the Yucatan (Mexico) all yellow to golden is replaced by red; in this area, the barring on the back is also finer than in the USA
Similar Species
Red-bellied Woodpecker, which differs in nape color in the area of overlap. [[Yucatan Woodpecker] is a relevant comparison in the southeastern part of the range.
Distribution
Resident from southwestern Oklahoma and central Texas down through Mexico and all of northern Central America to Nicaragua.
Taxonomy
The species name aurifrons is Latin for "gold-fronted"
Subspecies
Twelve subspecies occur throughout its range[1]:
- M. a. aurifrons: Lowlands of south-western Oklahoma and north-western Texas to south-central Mexico
- M. a. grateloupensis: Eastern Mexico (Tamaulipas and San Lu¡s Potos¡ to Puebla, Veracruz)
- M. a. veraecrucis: Atlantic slope: Eastern Mexico (Veracruz) to north-eastern Guatemala
- M. a. dubius: Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) to north-eastern Guatemala and Belize
Male, Subspecies
dubius Photo by
njlarsenHazienda Chichén, Yucatan,
Mexico, May 2012
- M. a. leei: Cozumel Island (off eastern Mexico)
- M. a. turneffensis: Turneffe Islands (off Belize)
- M. a. santacruzi: South-eastern Chiapas to El Salvador, south-western Honduras and north-central Nicaragua
- M. a. hughlandi: Guatemala (upper R¡o Negro and upper Motagua Valley)
- M. a. pauper: Coastal northern Honduras
- M. a. insulanus: Utila Island (off northern Honduras)
- M. a. canescens: Roat n Island and Barbareta Island (off northern Honduras)
- M. a. polygrammus: Arid south-western Mexico (south-western Oaxaca through interior Chiapas)
A hybrid zone occurs with the closely related Hoffmann's Woodpecker in southern Honduras. Some authors have suggested that they should be considered as one species. Other authors have suggested treating some of the subspecies as separate species, eg the santacruzi group (from Yucatan Peninsula including Honduras and Guatemala, and from surrounding islands) as Velasquez's Woodpecker.
Female, Subspecies
dubiusPhoto by
kstennettMerida, Yucatan,
Mexico, November 2010
Habitat
Open woods in dry country and river bottoms with trees.
This familiar woodpecker is common in the parks and shade trees of central and west Texas towns and cities.
Behaviour
Breeding
Nesting: 4 or 5 white eggs in holes in mesquite trees, poles, and posts.
Vocalisation
Loud churrrr.
Call: a burry chuck-chuck-chuck.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Avibase
- BF Member observations
External Links
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