The Strickland's and Arizona Woodpecker confusion

Even if you choose not to hike on the south side of the Santa Ritas, the drive through Patagonia and Sonoita is worth the trip. These small, quaint communities have a number of offerings for lunch or dinner, while Sonoita’s vineyards and wine tasting is a special treat. Some of their wines rival any wine from California. The trail to Josephine Saddle from the east side of the Santa Ritas involves a long drive on four-wheel drive roads, but worth it for the change of scenery. You will hardly recognize Mt. Wrightson from this side, as there is a distinct lack of cliffs. Enjoy the solitude here, as few hikers use this trail. View the list »
For a change of pace, try some of the trails on the east side of the Santa Rita Mountains, as they are certainly less traveled by hikers and offer wonderful views of the Patagonia and Sonoita areas. The Temporal Gulch Trail is a nice hike, but allow plenty of time if you plan on heading for Josephine Saddle. For many, this is a two-day trek.

Outdoor Rec & Adventure newsletter

The Strickland’s Woodpecker was once thought to be the same species as the Arizona Woodpecker, but is now recognized as the same species. The official name, even though still found in identification books as the Strickland’s, is the Arizona Woodpecker. This is a rare sight for many bird watchers, as it only visits Southern Arizona from Mexico and nowhere else. In the Santa Rita Mountains, you might well see this woodpecker species in Madera Canyon of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson as it prefers riparian areas with Sycamores and Cottonwoods.

Related topics

Advertisement

Unlike many woodpecker species, this small woodpecker is not black and white. The upperparts are brown, while the underside is brown with white speckles. There is a red patch at the back of the head.

This species of woodpecker works its way up and down tree trunks looking for beetles and insect larvae. It is not particularly social, and is rarely seen in groups more than three.

Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; allaboutbirds.com

View the list
  • For a change of pace, try some of the trails on the east side of the Santa Rita Mountains, as they are certainly less traveled by hikers and offer wonderful views of the Patagonia and Sonoita areas. The Temporal Gulch Trail is a nice hike, but allow plenty of time if you plan on heading for Josephine Saddle. For many, this is a two-day trek.
  • The trail to Josephine Saddle from the east side of the Santa Ritas involves a long drive on four-wheel drive roads, but worth it for the change of scenery. You will hardly recognize Mt. Wrightson from this side, as there is a distinct lack of cliffs. Enjoy the solitude here, as few hikers use this trail. 
  • Even if you choose not to hike on the south side of the Santa Ritas, the drive through Patagonia and Sonoita is worth the trip. These small, quaint communities have a number of offerings for lunch or dinner, while Sonoita’s vineyards and wine tasting is a special treat. Some of their wines rival any wine from California. 
View the list

, Santa Rita Mountains Outdoor Recreation Examiner

Ms. Strader is 40-year resident of Southern Arizona. She began her Forest Service career as a fire fighter in the Santa Rita Mountains which was the beginning of her dedication to learning as much as she could about the mountains she used to protect. ...

Advertisement

Today's top buzz...