Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (male)

Picoides scalaris

Ladder-backed Woodpecker (male)

Piocoides scalaris

 Ladder-backed Woodpecker (female)
Piocoides scalaris

There are some common bird names that make me wonder how in the world they came up with it but with the Ladder-backed Woodpecker it is easy to see how it got both it's common name and Latin name (scalaris=ladder).  Check out the "ladder" pattern on its back.  This pattern is very distinct and makes it easy to identify these woodpeckers which are a common sight in the Texas hill country.  A similar species with a "ladder-back" is the Nuttall's Woodpecker but it's unlikely you'll see one in the hill country as they are mainly found in California. The male ladder-backed has a red cap while the females have a black cap.  These woodpeckers were photographed at one of my favorite camping and birding spots, Pedernales Falls State Park.