Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes chrysogenys

By Eduardo Villegas

September 5, 2025

The Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys) is a bird found exclusively in Mexico, along the western and southwestern coastal strip of the Pacific Ocean, and in the western bordering regions of the mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. This colorful and eye-catching species is distributed along the coast from Sinaloa to Colima, which includes the state of Jalisco, where the Vallarta Botanical Garden is located!

Its habitat includes arid and semi-humid forests, plantations, and open landscapes with scattered trees. These woodpeckers usually occupy the middle and upper levels of the forest, foraging alone or in pairs for beetles, ants, fruits, and seeds. Their distinctive black eye patch, along with the yellow coloring on their cheek and chin, makes them easy to recognize.