Birds
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Dryobates scalaris · also called ladder-backed woodpeckers
Excavating a nest cavity into the trunk of a desert cactus, a ladder-backed woodpecker thrives where few other woodpeckers dare to settle, its black-and-white barred back and compact build perfectly suited to the arid scrubland of the American Southwest.
Overview
The ladder-backed woodpecker, Dryobates scalaris, is a small, desert-adapted woodpecker native to desert and forest habitat across the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its distinctive ladder-like barred back, unusual specialisation for arid desert scrub, and habit of nesting in cacti and mesquite make it one of the most habitat-adaptable woodpeckers found anywhere in North America.
A woodpecker built for the desert
While most woodpeckers depend on forests full of large trees, the ladder-backed woodpecker has adapted to a landscape where cacti and mesquite stand in for timber, thriving in conditions that would leave most other woodpeckers with nowhere to nest.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and stable across suitable desert and forest habitat throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker: common questions
Why is the ladder-backed woodpecker named that?
This species has a black-and-white barred pattern across the back resembling the rungs of a ladder, a distinctive feature that gives the species its common name.
How does the ladder-backed woodpecker survive in the desert?
This species thrives in arid desert scrub habitat where few other woodpeckers are found, nesting in cavities excavated in cacti, mesquite, and other desert vegetation to adapt to the lack of large trees.
How can you tell a male ladder-backed woodpecker from a female?
Males show a red crown patch that females lack, a straightforward way to distinguish the sexes in this small, compact desert-dwelling woodpecker.
Where is the ladder-backed woodpecker found?
This species is native to desert and forest habitat across the southwestern United States and Mexico, favouring arid scrubland far more than most other woodpecker species.