Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
FamilyPicidae (Woodpeckers)
GenusMelanerpes (Melanerpes Woodpeckers)
SpeciesMelanerpes formicivorus (Acorn Woodpecker)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Chingaza National Natural Park

2 Verified sightings at Chingaza National Natural Park From 2019 to 2026

22,961 Verified sightings across all 25 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Acorn Woodpecker

The acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker with a length of around 20 cm (8 in), and an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz). It is found across Central America, as well as North into the western United States and South into parts of Colombia.

The acorn woodpecker was formally described in 1827 by the English naturalist William Swainson under the binomial name Picus formicivorus from a specimen collected in Mexico. The specific epithet combines the Latin formica meaning "ant" with -vorus meaning "eating". The type locality is Temascaltepec in Mexico. The acorn woodpecker is one of 24 species now placed in the genus Melanerpes that was introduced by Swainson in 1832. Within Melanerpes the acorn woodpecker is sister to a clade containing two South American species: the white woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus) and the white-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum).

Seven subspecies are recognised: M. f. bairdi Ridgway, 1881 – Oregon (USA) to north Baja California (Mexico) M. f. angustifrons Baird, SF, 1870 – south Baja California (Mexico) M. f. formicivorus (Swainson, 1827) – southwest USA to southeast Mexico

M. f. albeolus Todd, 1910 – east Chiapas... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Chingaza National Natural Park

Melanerpes cruentatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Colaptes rivolii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Colaptes rubiginosus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Leuconotopicus fumigatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Picumnus squamulatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Campephilus pollens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Dryocopus lineatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Colaptes punctigula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Veniliornis passerinus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Campephilus melanoleucos

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Andigena nigrirostris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~70%
2	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~70%
3	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
4	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~40%
5	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
6	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
7	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
8	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
9	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
10	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
11	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
12	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
13	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
14	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
15	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
16	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
17	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
18	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
19	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
20	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
21	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
22	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
23	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
24	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
25	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data

← Back to Chingaza National Natural Park

Acorn Woodpecker

About the Acorn Woodpecker

Recent sightings of Acorn Woodpecker in Chingaza National Natural Park

Closest Relatives at Chingaza National Natural Park

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Scaled Piculet

Powerful Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Little Woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Black-billed Mountain-Toucan

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found