Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Genus & Species : Picoides nuttallii
Status: A common to uncommon woodpecker in southwestern California. Not present in Arizona.
Habitat: The Nuttall's Woodpecker prefers oak and riparian woods. A small woodpecker, only slightly larger than the Downy Woodpecker. Can be found in mountains, foothills, and wooded coastline habitat. Very little overlap with the similar Ladder-backed Woodpecker, which is found in lowland areas east of our southern California mountain ranges.
Best Chances: Several pairs of these woodpeckers are found in the Paso Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in the Laguna Mountains. They are generally easy to find in other wooded areas of the Laguna and San Jacinto Mountains. They are also easy to see in the Eucalyptus grove at the north end of the San Elijo Lagoon trail which starts at Rios Ave.