The Gila Woodpecker is the primary excavator of nest cavities in saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, creating the holes that are later used by Elf Owls, Purple Martins, and dozens of other species — making it a keystone species of the desert ecosystem. The male has a red cap patch; both sexes have a boldly barred black-and-white back. Its cackling calls are characteristic of desert mornings.
Best time to see a Gila Woodpecker
The best time to see a Gila Woodpecker is January–June, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 9,509 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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