Golden Fronted Woodpecker

This woodpecker is sometimes confused with the Northern Flicker. The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker is an inhabitant of the mesquite brushlands and dry woodlands of central and southern Texas. However, I took these shots in the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, so they are obviously coming into the panhandle. They don't usually drill into wood like most woodpeckers. Instead, they catch insects in flight or feed on fruit and nuts.

The one shown here is the female.

This one is the male.

The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker is related to the Red-bellied Woodpecker in the Eastern US, and they sometimes cross-breed.

(Female Golden-Fronted Woodpecker)

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