Dryobates scalaris
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) is a small, striking member of the Picidae family, showcasing a distinctive black-and-white 'ladder' pattern across its back, which gives it its common name. Measuring about 16-19 cm (6.3-7.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of 29-33 cm (11.4-13 inches) and weighing 26-49 grams (0.9-1.7 oz), it is one of the smaller North American woodpeckers. Males are easily identified by a prominent red crown and nape, while females sport a black crown wit...
This adaptable woodpecker primarily inhabits arid scrublands, desert washes, mesquite bosques, riparian corridors, and open woodlands. It is found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2,800 meters (9,200 feet).
Their diet primarily consists of insect larvae, beetles, ants, and other arthropods gleaned from bark or excavated from wood. They also supplement their diet with berries, cactus fruit, and occasionally sap.
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and communicating, often roosting individually in excavated cavities at night. Their foraging strategy involves meticulously scaling tree trunks, branches, and even cactus stalks, using their chisel-like bills to probe a...
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker's extensive range spans the southwestern United States, Mexico, and into parts of Central America. In the U.S., it is a year-round resident across California (excluding higher elevations), Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and extends north into southwestern Oklahoma, weste...
Least Concern
- The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is one of the smallest woodpeckers in its North American range, comparable in size to a House Sparrow. - It is one of the few woodpecker species that regularly excavates nest cavities in living or dead saguaro cacti, a critical adaptation for desert living. - Its di...