In desert areas, frequents desert riparian and pinyon-juniper habitats in winter. Territory and home range apparently same. Incubation 11-16 days, by both sexes. Male provides most of care for altricial young, which fledge at 25-28 days. Adults apparently pair for life.
Mammals prey on eggs and young.
Falcons, accipiters, and buteos have been reported as predators of adults. Fortieth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Bent, A. C. 1939. Life histories of North American woodpeckers. Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye.