Overview Of The Cape Gilded Flicker
Scientific Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Piciformes
- Family: Picidae
- Genus: Colaptes
- Species: Chrysoides
- Subspecies: Chrysoides (Cape Gilded Flicker)
Want to learn more about bird subspecies:
Identification
The Cape gilded flicker is a large woodpecker, measuring 28-33 cm long with a wingspan of 46-56 cm. It has a cinnamon-brown back and wings, with black barring and white spotting.
The underside is beige to buff, with black spots. The nape of the neck is grayish. The most distinctive feature is the golden yellow shafts on the wings and tail, visible when perched. The male has a red moustachial stripe.
Location
The Cape gilded flicker is found exclusively in the southern part of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. Its range is restricted to the Cape Region, south of El Rosario. It occupies arid scrub forests, palm groves, and desert wash habitats in this coastal region.
Unique Traits
Golden Plumage
The standout feature of the Cape Gilded Flicker is its golden-yellow wings and tail, which distinguish it from other flicker subspecies. These gilded feathers are especially visible during flight and add to its visual appeal.
Adaptation to Arid Environments
This flicker species is well-adapted to arid landscapes. It utilizes its strong bill to extract insects, ants, and larvae from tree bark and the ground, displaying remarkable foraging skills.
Social Behavior
Cape Gilded Flickers are often observed in pairs or small groups. They communicate using various calls, including rhythmic drumming sounds created by rapid pecking on resonant surfaces.
Summary
This bird is a visually striking woodpecker species found in the southern part of Baja California, Mexico. With its golden-yellow wings and tail, this flicker stands out amidst its desert and woodland habitats.
Despite its relatively limited geographic range, this subspecies is a testament to the avian diversity found in unique ecosystems.
Frequently Ask Questions
01. What kind of habitat does the Cape Gilded Flicker occupy?
The Cape gilded flicker occupies arid scrub forests, palm groves, and desert washes in southern Baja California. It is found in dry, open woodland habitats.
02. How does the Cape Gilded Flicker find food and nest?
It forages mostly on the ground for ants, fruits, and seeds. Pairs nest in cavities in trees, utility poles, fence posts, and sometimes in the ground.
03. Why is the Cape Gilded Flicker limited to southern Baja California?
The range of this subspecies is restricted to the Cape Region of Baja California likely because of its adaptation to the arid desert and scrub habitat found there. The isolation of this habitat maintains genetic separation from other populations.
