From Opus

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Photo by Reini
Location: Costa Rica,beach of San Manuel
Male and female

[edit] Identification

20.5 cm long and weigh 48g. Barred black and white back and wings and a white rump. The tail is black with some white barring, and the underparts are pale buff-brown. The male has a red crown patch and nape. The female has a buff crown and duller nape.

[edit] Distribution

Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas and Tobago.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Forests and semi-open woodland and cultivation.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests in a hole in a dead tree or large cactus. 2 eggs are laid and incubated by both sexes; the young fledge after 31-33 days.

Its diet includes insects, fruit and nectar.

[edit] External Links