Crimson-bellied Woodpecker

Overview

The Campephilus haematogaster is a species of woodpecker in the subfamily Picinae. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though its population size is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Males have a buff band between the black eye band and chin, while females have the band extending down the side of the neck to the upper breast.
• Song is described as a repetition of harsh, nasal, squeaky but loud 'eer' notes, accompanied by a 'stk! st-kr-r-r-r-r-r' call and a fast drumroll of 3–4 loud raps.

Habitat

The bird is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru, extending slightly into Bolivia. It mostly inhabits the interior of humid and wet forest, montane forest, and várzea, though it is also found along forest edges.

Diet

Its diet consists mostly of adults and larvae of large beetles, with other insects also taken. It usually forages near the ground on the trunks of large trees, either by itself or in pairs, by hammering and probing to reach prey.