Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Acorn Woodpecker vs Gila Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Gila Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Gila Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Gila Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Gila Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker • Wikimedia Commons
Acorn Woodpecker vs Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus vs Melanerpes uropygialis): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two Melanerpes woodpeckers share Arizona. Three rules:
- Face: a bold clown pattern — white forehead and throat, black mask, pale yellow-white eye — = Acorn Woodpecker; a plain tan face with a dark eye = Gila Woodpecker.
- Back: solid black with big white wing patches = Acorn; finely barred black-and-white = Gila.
- Setting: oak woodlands with acorn-stuffed granary trees = Acorn; saguaro desert and desert towns = Gila.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The clown and the desert tan, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Acorn Woodpecker | Gila Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanerpes formicivorus | Melanerpes uropygialis |
| Length | 9.0 in (23 cm) | 9.3 in (24 cm) |
| Wingspan | 16.1 in (41 cm) | 16.1 in (41 cm) |
| Weight | 2.3–3.2 oz (65–90 g) | 2.3–2.9 oz (65–82 g) |
| Overall Shape | Medium woodpecker with a bold black-and-white “clown” face | Medium desert woodpecker, tan-headed with a barred back |
| Male Plumage KEY | Black body with white rump and wing patches; white forehead and throat, black mask, yellow-white eye, red crown meeting the white forehead | Tan head, breast and belly; black-and-white barred back and wings; small red patch on the crown; white wing patches in flight |
| Female Plumage | Like the male but the red crown is set farther back, separated from the white forehead by a black band | Like the male but without the red crown patch |
| Bill Shape | Straight, stout, gray-black | Stout, gray-black, slightly decurved |
| Tail | Black, stiff, braced against bark | Barred black and white, stiff |
| Core Range KEY | Oak woodlands of the Pacific coast and Southwest — Oregon and California to Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas | Sonoran Desert — Arizona and neighboring lowlands — in saguaro stands, towns and farms |
| Migration | Non-migratory; colonies defend granary trees year-round | Non-migratory resident |
| Feeder Presence KEY | Visits suet feeders and birdbaths in oak-country yards; colonies may adopt a feeder pole as a granary | A bold desert-yard bird: suet, fruit, and notorious for raiding hummingbird feeders for nectar |
| Favorite Foods | Acorns stored by the thousand in granary trees; insects caught in flight; sap | Insects, cactus fruit, nectar, eggs; suet at feeders |
| Song | No true song — raucous “waka-waka-waka” calls instead | No true song — a rolling “churr” instead |
| Flight Call | The laughing “waka-waka” chorus of a colony | A rolling “churr” and sharp “pip” notes |
| Population Trend | Stable where mature oaks remain | Stable; benefits from backyard saguaros and palms |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Acorn Woodpecker — Male
Melanerpes formicivorus
- Clown face: white forehead and throat, black mask, pale staring eye.
- Red crown touches the white forehead (male).
- White rump and wing patches flash in flight.
Gila Woodpecker — Male
Melanerpes uropygialis
- Tan head and underparts with a small red crown patch.
- Barred back and wings; white wing patches flash in flight.
- Excavates nest holes in saguaros — later used by owls and flycatchers.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Acorn Woodpecker — Female
Melanerpes formicivorus
- Like the male, but a black band separates the red crown from the white forehead.
- Found in noisy family colonies around granary trees.
- Checks acorn stores constantly through fall and winter.
Gila Woodpecker — Female
Melanerpes uropygialis
- Tan head without the red patch; barred back.
- Raids hummingbird feeders for sugar water.
- The default woodpecker of Sonoran Desert towns.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Head pattern alone settles it — but the whole bird confirms:
| Body Part | Acorn Woodpecker | Gila Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Clown pattern: white forehead/throat, black mask, pale eye | Plain tan face, dark eye |
| Crown (M) | Red crown meeting the white forehead | Small red patch on an otherwise tan crown |
| Back | Glossy black | Black-and-white barred |
| Wings in Flight | Black with large white patches | Barred with white wing patches |
| Underparts | Black breast over pale, streaked belly | Tan throughout |
| Social Setting | Noisy colonies at granary trees | Solitary pairs on territories |
| Signature Structure | Granary tree studded with acorns | Saguaro nest holes |
Song & Call Comparison
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Voice: the raucous, laughing waka-waka-waka given by the whole colony.
Drumming: short, even rolls on dead limbs — and on granary poles in yards.
Acorn Woodpecker voice • Wikimedia Commons
Gila Woodpecker
Melanerpes uropygialis
Voice: a loud rolling churr, plus sharp pip notes.
Drumming: rapid rolls on saguaros, palms and utility poles.
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Acorn Woodpecker lives in oak woodlands from Oregon and California through the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas — wherever oaks produce storable acorn crops.
The Gila Woodpecker is a Sonoran Desert bird — the lowlands of Arizona and neighboring states — nesting in saguaros and palms in desert towns and farmland. The two meet where desert lowlands rise into oak foothills in southern Arizona.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Acorn Woodpecker: colonies visit suet feeders and birdbaths in oak-country yards; a feeder pole may end up drilled and stuffed with acorns.
- Gila Woodpecker: a bold desert-yard bird — suet, fruit, and famously raids hummingbird feeders for sugar water.
- Best foods: suet for both; the Acorn also takes nuts and corn, the Gila takes nectar and cactus fruit.
- Yard clue: acorns hammered into every post and tree = Acorn Woodpecker colony; neat round holes in your saguaro = Gila Woodpecker pair.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Acorn Woodpeckers are communal clowns — loud family clans that chatter “waka-waka” all day and manage communal granary trees holding thousands of acorns.
Gila Woodpeckers live in territorial pairs — feisty, vocal, and aggressive at feeders, chasing off birds far larger than themselves.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Face. Clown pattern with pale eye = Acorn; plain tan with dark eye = Gila.
- Back. Solid black = Acorn; barred = Gila.
- Underparts. Black breast, streaked belly = Acorn; all tan = Gila.
- Habitat. Oaks and granary trees = Acorn; saguaros and desert towns = Gila.
- Social scene. Noisy colony = Acorn; territorial pair = Gila.
- Call. Laughing “waka-waka” = Acorn; rolling “churr” = Gila.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Acorn Woodpecker from a Gila Woodpecker?
The Acorn Woodpecker has a black-and-white clown face with a pale eye and a solid black back. The Gila Woodpecker has a plain tan head and underparts with a barred back and a dark eye.
Do Acorn and Gila Woodpeckers live together?
They overlap where Arizona desert lowlands rise into oak foothills. Acorn Woodpeckers stay with the oaks; Gila Woodpeckers own the saguaros and desert towns below them.
What is a granary tree?
A tree (or pole, or building) that an Acorn Woodpecker colony drills full of individual holes, each holding one acorn — a single granary can hold tens of thousands. Gila Woodpeckers do not build granaries.
Which woodpecker raids hummingbird feeders?
The Gila Woodpecker is notorious for clinging to hummingbird feeders and lapping up sugar water. Acorn Woodpeckers prefer suet, nuts and their stored acorns.
Are both species found in cities?
Yes, but in different cities: Gila Woodpeckers are urban birds of Phoenix and Tucson; Acorn Woodpeckers live in oak-shaded towns of California and the southwestern mountains.
Do either of these woodpeckers migrate?
No — both are year-round residents. Acorn Woodpecker colonies defend the same granary trees for generations.
Key Takeaways
- Face: Clown pattern + pale eye = Acorn; plain tan = Gila.
- Back: Solid black = Acorn; barred = Gila.
- Habitat: Oak woodlands = Acorn; saguaro desert = Gila.
- Society: Granary colonies = Acorn; territorial pairs = Gila.
- Call: “Waka-waka” = Acorn; rolling “churr” = Gila.
- Feeders: Suet for both; hummingbird-feeder raids = Gila.