Gila Woodpecker Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: In our trips to Arizona, my favorite activity is to get up right before dawn and start walking through Sonoran desert habitat, whether it's at Saguaro National Park, or some of the other great areas around (and within) Tucson. One species I've had some great memories of are Gila Woodpeckers. One bird that stands out was during a May 2008 trip, when I watched a Gila Woodpecker gorge on nectar of Giant Saguaro blooms, getting so coated by the pollen that it's head turned white. But the most fun I had watching a Gila Woodpecker was on an April 2014 trip, when I came across an active nest site in a Saguaro. The pair would take turns going in and out of a hole that seemed impossibly small, often pausing at the entrance before going in, and seemingly feeding young inside. My favorite photo below is of one of the pair sticking its head out of the nesting hole, waiting for its mate to return.

Gila Woodpecker - Melanerpes uropygialis


Gila Woodpecker 1 September 10th, 2006 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 2 September 10th, 2006 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 3 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 4 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker 5 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 6 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 7 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 8 May 10th, 2008 Near Tucson, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker 9 December 9th, 2010 Near Chandler, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 10 April 16th, 2014 Saguaro National Park, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 11 April 16th, 2014 Saguaro National Park, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 12 April 18th, 2014 Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker 13 April 19th, 2014 Saguaro National Park, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 14 April 20th, 2014 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 15 April 20th, 2014 Near Tucson, Arizona	Gila Woodpecker 16 April 20th, 2014 Near Tucson, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker 17 December 28th, 2018 Near Tucson, Arizona