Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) [XC143912]
by Andrew Spencer from US-83, Real Co., Texas, United States (call)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) [XC21853]
by Paul Marvin from Welder Wildlife Refuge, San Patricio County, Texas, United States (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Hoffmann's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii), and sometimes regarded as conspecific. Hybridizes with Hoffmann's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii) in southern Honduras (R Pespire), with Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) in southern USA (Texas) and infrequently with Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) in south-western Mexico. Geographical variation complex, and strong clinal variation in many plumage characters, making delimitation of subspecies very difficult. Additionally, mainland subspecies, themselves variable to greater or lesser extent, intergrade, producing many populations with intermediate characters; grateloupensis possibly no more than an intergrade population. Subspecific treatment has varied greatly in the past, and some authors have recognized only 9 or fewer subspecies. Conversely, others have grouped subspecies to form up to 4 separate species. Paler birds from central Texas south to western Mexican Plateau described as subspecies incanescens, but considered better merged with nominate. Others from interior Chiapas described as subspecies frontalis, tending towards nominate, but better treated as part of polygrammus.
The following 12 subspecies are recognised:
aurifrons (Wagler, 1829) - Southern USA from north-western Texas and south-western Oklahoma southern across Mexican Plateau to Jalisco, north-western San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo.
grateloupensis (Lesson, 1839) - Central San Luis Potosí and south-western Tamaulipas to eastern Puebla and central Veracruz.
veraecrucis Nelson, 1900 - Atlantic slope from southern Veracruz to north-eastern Guatemala.
dubius (Cabot, 1844) - Yucatán Peninsula south to north-eastern Guatemala and Belize.
polygrammus (Cabanis, 1862) - Pacific slope from south-western Oaxaca east through interior Chiapas.
santacruzi (Bonaparte, 1838) - South-eastern Chiapas east to El Salvador, south-western Honduras and north-central Nicaragua.
hughlandi Dickerman, 1987 - Upper R Negro and upper Motagua Valley in Guatemala.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet