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Crimson-crested Woodpecker | Campephilus melanoleucos
Zwartkeelspecht | Carpintero marcial | Pica-pau-de-topete-vermelho
The Crimson-crested Woodpecker is the most widespread Campephilus woodpecker of the guide area, found in almost all the lowlands east of the Andes and in northern Colombia. It occurs at forest edges, in riverine forest and in semi-open country with tall trees, and is often heard by the loud double knock of its drum. It closely resembles the Lineated Woodpecker, with which it often occurs.
Voice
A loud, nasal skwee-ah and a fast, high series of notes. It drums with a loud double knock, DA-drr, stressed on the first stroke.
Recording: Juan Freile — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 · xeno-canto
Identification
33–38 cm, with a long, straight, ivory bill and a pointed red crest. The upperparts are black. A white stripe runs along the side of the neck to the back, where it meets the other stripe to form a closed white V. The throat and breast are black, the belly pale buff with black barring. The male has an almost entirely red head, with a small black-and-white spot on the ear coverts and a pale spot at the bill base. The female has a black forehead and a broad white stripe running from the bill base across the cheek to the neck. In flight the underwings are white.
Confusion species
Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus has white scapular stripes that do not meet on the back, a narrow white cheek stripe that does not reach the bill, and a darker bill. Guayaquil Woodpecker Campephilus gayaquilensis west of the Andes closely resembles Crimson-crested, but has a darker, more cinnamon belly. Red-necked Woodpecker Campephilus rubricollis has a red breast, a rufous belly and no white stripes.
Habitat
Forest edges, riverine forest, várzea, open and secondary forest, gallery forest in savanna and semi-open country with tall trees, also cacao and other plantations, from the lowlands to about 1500 m, locally higher. It searches trunks and large branches for beetle larvae and ants. It nests in a self-excavated cavity in a tree.
Where the bird is most at home, classified by the vegetation units of the Andes and the west coast.
Range and movements
In Colombia in the north, in the Magdalena and Cauca valleys and throughout the lowlands east of the Andes. In Ecuador in the eastern lowlands and foothills. In Peru in the Amazonian lowlands and on the lower eastern slope. In Bolivia in the northern and eastern lowlands and on the lower slopes. Absent from the Galápagos. Outside the guide area from Panama to northern Argentina.
- Resident
- dark = core range, pale = thinly spread
How and when to look
Along rivers, forest edges and clearings with tall trees, listen for the double knock and the nasal call. Birds often perch in pairs on the trunk of an isolated tree.
Conservation status
Least Concern. The species has a very large range and tolerates forest edges and secondary forest.
Scientific name
Campephilus melanoleucos | (Gmelin, 1788)
Gmelin described the species in 1788 as Picus melanoleucos; because it was later moved to another genus, the author and year stand in brackets. The genus Campephilus was introduced in 1840 by Gray. The genus name combines Greek kampē, 'caterpillar', with philos, 'loving'. The species name combines Greek melas, 'black', with leukos, 'white', meaning 'black and white'. The specimen the first description was based on came from Suriname.