Alternative name: Balsas Woodpecker
- Melanerpes hypopolius
Identification
c. 19-21 cm.
- White to buffish-white forehead with red patch on central crown
- Narrow black area around eye, a few red feathers beneath eye and occasionally also in moustachial region
- Pale buff-brown to grey-brown rest of head, neck and upper mantle
- Black upperparts and wing-coverts barred white to buffish-white
- White rump and uppertail-coverts with black spots, streaks or bars
- Black flight-feathers broadly barred white
- Black uppertail, tipped white
- Grey-brown underparts, becoming paler with variable black arrowhead bars on lower underparts
- Fairly long bill slightly chisel-tipped, culmen curved
Females are similar but they lack the red on crown.
Juveniles are duller, browner and greyer, the barring is less contrasting.
Similar species
Smaller than Gila Woodpecker, with a greyer plumage, red beneath eye and stronger white bars above.
Distribution
Restricted to southwestern Mexico (northern Guerrero and Morelos to east-central Oaxaca).
A common to fairly common restricted-range species. Poorly known.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Formerly considered conspecific with Gila Woodpecker.
Habitat
Found in xeric areas with shrubs, scattered trees or large cacti. Also in riverside groves if Golden-cheeked Woodpecker not present.
Occurs between 900 and 2100 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on fruits. Takes also insects.
Observed storing food. Usually seen in groups of 3 to 10 birds. Forages at various levels including on the ground.
Breeding
Breeding season from late April to July. A co-operative, colonial breeder. The nest hole is built in a tree or in a cactus, 3 to 6 m above the ground.
Movements
This is a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334375
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Gray-breasted Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gray-breasted_Woodpecker
