Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes chrysogenys (Vigors, 1839)

19–22 cmLength68 gWeight

The golden-cheeked woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys) is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae.

Busiest months: January · Most records: Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January · Most records: Mexico

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker has been recorded at 14 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Rancho PrimaveraMexico2,357 records
  2. Jardín Botánico VallartaMexico1,257 records
  3. Playa YelapaMexico789 records
More places
  1. ChacalillaMexico751 records
  2. Rio PitillalMexico674 records
  3. Camino SingaytaMexico640 records
  4. Rio La TovaraMexico549 records
  5. TecuitataMexico542 records
  6. Laguna San PanchoMexico465 records
  7. Boca de TomatesMexico289 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Mexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The golden-cheeked woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys) is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Mexico.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker?

The Golden-cheeked Woodpecker is about 19–22 cm long and weighs around 68 g.

Where does the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker live?

Its breeding range: Middle America: western Mexico. It is most often recorded in Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker as Least Concern.

What does the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker in?

It belongs to the family Woodpeckers (Picidae), order Piciformes.

At a glance

Length
19–22 cm
Weight
68 g
Habitat
Woodland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
118 mm
Tail
79 mm
Bill
26 mm
Tarsus
20 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Middle America: western Mexico

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Woodpeckers Picidae
Genus
Melanerpes

Other birds in the genus Melanerpes

White WoodpeckerWhite WoodpeckerMelanerpes candidusLewis's WoodpeckerLewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisGuadeloupe WoodpeckerGuadeloupe WoodpeckerMelanerpes herminieriPuerto Rican WoodpeckerPuerto Rican WoodpeckerMelanerpes portoricensisRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusAcorn WoodpeckerAcorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusYellow-tufted WoodpeckerYellow-tufted WoodpeckerMelanerpes cruentatusYellow-fronted WoodpeckerYellow-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes flavifronsGolden-naped WoodpeckerGolden-naped WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysauchenBeautiful WoodpeckerBeautiful WoodpeckerMelanerpes pulcherBlack-cheeked WoodpeckerBlack-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes pucheraniWhite-fronted WoodpeckerWhite-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes cactorum
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ad Konings. ↗

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