The Acorn Woodpecker is best known for its habit of storing acorns in holes drilled for that purpose. A resident of western open oak and pine/oak forests from southern Oregon south through California, and in Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and in the tropics farther south. This species nests and maintains acorn storage locations colonially. Nest are typically holes in dead oak branches. Food sources include insects, acorns, sap and fruit. Insects are often caught on the wing, flycatcher-style.

This female Acorn Woodpecker has just successfully driven a California Ground Squirrel away from its acorn storage tree.

Camera: Nikon FTN Lens: 500mm f/8 Reflex-Nikkor Film: Kodachrome 64 Exposure: not recorded Support: tripod folded to use as monopod Date: 1976 Location: Sunol Regional Wilderness, Alameda County California

This male has dipped his bill into the pond (background) and is letting the water run down his throat. In the original photograph there was too little space on the left side so I added a slice from a subsequent exposure. I also toned down the bright spot of sunlight in the lower left corner.

Camera: Leica R8 with Leica Digital Module-R at ISO 400 Lens: Leitz 560mm f/6.8 Telyt-R with extension tube Exposure: 1/250 sec @ f/6.8 Support: shoulder stock and monopod Date: 20 April 2008 Location: Ancil Hoffman county park, Sacramento County California