- 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
Central and South America
Central America: South-east Mexico (Veracruz, Chiapas), Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
South America: Colombia to westernEcuador
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.
References
- 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.
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-cheeked Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-cheeked_Woodpecker
External Links
