Choco Woodpecker - BirdForum Opus

Veniliornis chocoensis

Identification

Upperside olive green with some reddish and yellow streaking and white spots, underside evenly barred pale yellow and olive brown. Male has red forehead and crown, pale brownish sides of head, and yellow nape; female differ in having forehead and crown olive.

Similar Species

This species is darker and more strongly patterned on the underside than Red-stained Woodpecker and Golden-collared Woodpecker.

Distribution

West Colombia and north-west Ecuador.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹.

Has in the past been alternatingly placed within Red-stained Woodpecker or Golden-collared Woodpeckers.

Habitat

Very humid lowland evergreen forest to 1000m.

Behaviour

Forages alone or in pairs.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. BirdLife International

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Choco Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Choco_Woodpecker

External Links

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