How long do gila woodpeckers live?
The oldest Gila Woodpecker on record lived to 11 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild gila woodpeckers live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 11 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 2–3 per season
- Size
- 8–10 in, 2.2–2.8 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 5 of 7
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Gila Woodpecker can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
How gila woodpeckers compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other woodpeckers on this site.
- Red-bellied Woodpecker20.7 years
- Acorn Woodpecker17.2 years
- Pileated Woodpecker13 years
- Northern Flicker12.5 years
- Red-headed Woodpecker10 years
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker7.8 years
More about gila woodpeckers
Frequently asked
How long do gila woodpeckers live?
The longest-lived Gila Woodpecker on record reached 11 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild gila woodpeckers live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
What is the oldest Gila Woodpecker ever recorded?
11 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Gila Woodpecker raise in a year?
Pairs lay 3–5 eggs and raise 2–3 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info