Leucistic Woodpeckers in San Ramon
We visited Bishop Ranch Nature Preserve, and I had no expectations of what I might see. Shortly after we arrived, I saw a couple other birdwatchers with their big camera kits set up, pointed at some trees. Immediately, I saw a white bird land and recognized it as a white woodpecker! VERY EXCITING!
I chatted with another birder and he told me that there is a group of about 5 leucistic acorn woodpeckers that live at this park – there are a few males and females, and he showed me their favorite tree, filled up with nuts!
This was the first time I’ve ever seen a leucistic woodpecker, and felt so lucky to be there at the place and time to witness such a unique bird. They are very uncommon, with 1/30,000 being leucistic (nearly all white, not albino, has colored eyes). They have a red cap and I learned that the females red cap extends down and is longer and bigger than the males. It looks like I saw two different leucistics, and there was a common acorn woodpecker too.
Couldn’t leave out the red-tailed hawk that flew over us!
Birds at Bishop Ranch Nature Preserve:
*new sighting!