Just wanted to share a fun wildlife sighting from the backyard today! We had a beautiful Ladder-backed Woodpecker stop by to inspect the trees.
In the video, you can see it hitching right up the trunk and doing some signature tapping. These little guys are
Meet the Ladder-backed Woodpecker 🐦
If you aren't familiar with this specific species, they are quintessential desert dwellers. Here is a little bit of fun trivia about our neighborhood visitors:
The "Cactus Woodpecker": They are so well-adapted to arid environments that they are historically known as cactus woodpeckers. While they love a good tree trunk, they are just as comfortable nesting inside giant saguaros, agaves, or yuccas.
How to Tell Them Apart: You can easily spot them by the distinct, horizontal black-and-white bars running down their backs (which look exactly like the rungs of a ladder). If you see a bright, checkered red cap on its head, you're looking at a male; the females sport a sleek, all-black crown.
Built for the Desert: Unlike migratory birds, these hardy little woodpeckers are year-round residents of the Southwest. They don't mind the extreme heat and rely heavily on local native desert landscaping for food and shelter.
How to Attract Them to Your Yard
Want to get a closer look at one yourself? They are frequent backyard visitors if you give them a reason to stop by:
Native Trees: They are especially fond of desert-adapted trees like Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Chaste trees.
Suet Feeders: While they hunt for bugs on bark, hanging a high-quality suet block in a shaded area of your yard is a guaranteed way to catch their attention.
Fresh Water: A simple backyard fountain or a clean birdbath is a magnet for them, especially during the peak summer heat.
It’s always an absolute treat to see native wildlife thriving right here in our neighborhoods. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for that sharp, rapid tapping sound—you might have one visiting your yard next!
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