In the video above, we can see a ladder-backed woodpecker plying his trade, chiseling into the bark and wood of a velvet mesquite tree at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary. This adult male, as evidenced by the red cap at the back of his crown, is searching for insects, particularly woodboring beetle larvae—a mainstay of the species. Aiding in his caloric quest are a reinforced skull that serves as a cranial shock-absorber, as well as a tongue so long that it wraps around the top of his skull! Ladder-backed woodpeckers also have acute hearing that enables them to auditorily detect unseen prey sequestered within wood. Once found, an insect can be extracted from relatively deep in the wood, as the tongue is also barbed and sticky, acting like a sort of flexible harpoon.
Like most woodpecker species, the ladder-backed woodpecker has zygodactyl feet with two toes pointing forward and two backwards. This enables them to efficiently cling to trees, aided by their stiff tail feathers that serve as a strut. All of this evolutionary hardware and associated behaviors have earned them the name “Pajaro Carpintero” in Spanish.
Given that they are among the smallest woodpeckers in North America, ladder-backs must keep their senses honed for predators. I recently observed several coachwhip snakes climb tall trees at our preserve with ease. Once ensconced on a limb, these slick reptiles could easily snatch an unwary bird. Loggerhead shrikes, American kestrels and sharp-shinned hawks also loom as palpable threats to this diminutive woodpecker. Although their mottled black and white plumage serves as excellent camouflage, over the years I have found quite a few piles of plucked ladder-backed woodpecker feathers on the ground—a testament to their vulnerability to predatory birds.
Vincent Pinto and his wife, Claudia, run RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS, their Nature Adventure & Conservation organization devoted to protecting and promoting the unique biodiversity of the Sky Islands region. RWWJ offers a wide variety of private, custom-made courses, birding & biodiversity tours. Visit ravensnatureschool.org