
Gila woodpecker
Woodpeckers nest in cavities that they excavate with their long beak. In the Sonoran Desert they often make these cavities in saguaro cactus. The inside of a cactus provides a safe, cool place for the woodpeckers to raise their young. The excavated cavity is called a "boot".

The Gila woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico. In the U.S., they range through southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Similar species: Woodpeckers, Barbets, Toucans
By Sally Mesarosh
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Uploaded Feb 18, 2025. Captured Feb 15, 2025 19:48 in 1618 E Garnet Ave, Mesa, AZ 85204, USA.