Black-cheeked Woodpecker

From Opus

Male
Photo by John Keep
Hotel Gavilan near La Selva, Costa Rica, March, 2006

Melanerpes pucherani

Identification

18.5 cm

• Black upperparts
• White barring on back
• White spotting on wings
• White rump
• Black tail with some white barring
• Underparts pale buff-olive
• Red central belly
• Black patch through eyes and on cheeks
• Yellow forehead
• Red nape
• Crown: red in the male and black in the female
  

Young birds are duller, have less white above and less red on the belly.

Distribution

South-east Mexico (Veracruz, Chiapas) to western Ecuador.

Female
Photo by John Keep
Hotel Gavilan near La Selva, Costa Rica, March, 2006

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Upper and middle levels of humid forests, scattered tall trees, old second growth and roadside trees around farms, woodlands and gardens

Behaviour

Breeding

The nest is an unlined hole high up in a dead tree. The clutch of 2-4 glossy white eggs is incubated by both adults.

Diet

The diet consists mostly of insects, but fruit and nectar are also eaten.

Vocalisation

The call is a rattling krrrrrl.
Both sexes can be heard drumming.

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