Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Picoides
scalaris
 Reproduction
of the Ladder-backed woodpecker
 The
Ladder-backed woodpecker excavates nest cavities in the Agave
and Yucca's
dead flower stalks and Joshua
tree. Most vegetation in the desert is either to short and
accessible to predators or too narrow in diameter to excavate a
hole. The Ladder-backed woodpecker also nests in riparian areas
that border the desert. Here they nest in snags of cottonwoods,
willows,
or mesquite.
Niche filled by the Ladder-backed woodpecker
The
Ladder-backed woodpecker eats the agave beetle larva. The adult
beetles are essential for pollination. However, the larva eat the
maturing fruit. The Ladder-backed woodpecker helps to control
their population and keep things in balance. The Ladder-back
woodpecker also uses the old Agave
flower stalk as a nest site.
How to attract the Ladder-backed woodpecker
to your garden
 First
of all, you must be near the desert habitats the bird lives in
naturally. I'm sorry, but if you live a thousand miles away they
will not fly specifically to your garden. However if you live in
southern California this is probably close enough. The two most
important things are food and housing. These can both be achieved
by planting the appropriate plant community. First plant dual
purpose plants. Plants that will provide a source of wood boring
beetles as well as good nest sites. If you plant trees, it will
take a long time to get a tree large enough to support a
woodpecker. In addition dead wood is needed for a nest site and
chances are your baby tree will not have dead branches any time
soon. So a while you are waiting for your
riparian species to mature, plant a Yucca
or an Agave.
When these flower, do not remove the old stalks. Make sure not to
plant them to close to walk ways. Birds do not like predators to
know where their young are, and they might poke someone. Also, do
not plant the riparian species next to your desert species. This
is a big no-no. Either the riparian plants will die of drought or
the desert species will drown. Put some transitional communities
in between.
Range of
Ladder-backed woodpecker
The
Ladder-backed Woodpecker lives in the southeastern corner of
California from southern Kern and Inyo counties into Mexico. This
area falls into the range of the Mojave and Sonoran desert.
Habitat/Plant community used by the
Ladder-backed woodpecker
 The
Ladder-back is found primarily in desert habitats. These habitats
include Joshua tree woodland, Pinyon-juniper woodland, desert
wash, and Creosote scrub and Shad scale scrub that contains Agave
. They also frequent riparian communities bordering
desert regions.
Community
links:
Creosote
scrub
Shad
scale scrub
Pinyon-juniper
woodland
Joshua
tree woodland
Riparian
Diet of the Ladder-backed woodpecker
The
Ladder-backed woodpecker feeds primarily on insects. A large
portion of the Ladder-backed woodpecker's diet consists of
wood-boring beetles and other insect. The Ladder-backed
woodpecker has been known to feed on cactus fruit as well.
Migratory
status of the Ladder-backed woodpecker
The
Ladder-backed woodpecker does not migrate.
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