Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers

by OBDK on December 26, 2022

 
Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers can be found in Texas and Oklahoma in the United States, and throughout eastern Mexico and the northern part of Central America.1&2 They aren’t migratory birds, and so stay in these areas throughout the year. They prefer woodland habitats that are close to water as well as tropical forests.2
 
These birds eat a large variety of food. They’re omnivorous and eat:3
 
  • Insects like beetles, grasshoppers, and moths
  • Fruit like prickly pear cactus, citrus fruits, wolfberries, and persimmons
  • Nuts and seeds like pecans, peanuts, and sunflower seeds
 
They’ll eat insects and larvae from trees – getting them off their branches and from the trunks. Those that eat prickly pear cacti sometimes eat so much that they’ll actually stain their feathers with the juice.1
 
Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers are also monogamous birds. They’ll stay with the same mate year after year and will rekindle their bonds in spring.3 When they reproduce, females will lay around 4 or 5 eggs and both males and females will incubate the eggs. Just like with the Downy Woodpeckers, offspring don’t stay with their parents for very long. They will be on their own about a month later.2

Learn more about wildlife with OBDK!
 
We have tons of activities and materials to help students learn about the wild world around them. Check out some of our favorites:
 
  • Owl pellets – a great activity to help students learn about the food chain and practice their investigative and observational skills.
  • Dissect It! labs – introduce students to anatomy and dissection in an approachable and fun way without using real animals.
  • Puzzles – a fun challenge where you can learn along the way! Each puzzle is accompanied by a list of fun facts.
  • DVDs – an entertaining collection of DVDs about wolves and birds, including the classroom edition of The Great Predator Debate.
Sources:
  1. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-fronted_Woodpecker/overview
  2. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/golden-fronted-woodpecker
  3. https://celebrateurbanbirds.org/learn/birds/focal-species/golden-fronted-woodpecker/
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