Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Overview

Kaempfer's woodpecker, also known as the Piauí woodpecker, is a vulnerable species of bird in the family Picidae that is endemic to Brazil. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the rufous-headed woodpecker but was elevated to full species status in the early 2000s based on distinct plumage and habitat differences.

Identification

• Measures 26.5 to 38 cm in length and weighs between 85 and 105 g.
• Features a rufous-red head with a bushy crest, with adult males displaying bright red malar patches and red behind the eye.
• Underparts are pale yellowish buff with a black throat and breast, often marked with a few black bars or spots below the breast.
• Produces a loud, upslurred squeal followed by a softer bubbling chuckle and drums fast, evenly paced rolls on bamboo stems.

Habitat

Endemic to northeastern Brazil, specifically within the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Tocantins, Goiás, and Mato Grosso. The species appears to be associated with Guadua paniculata bamboo growing in Cerrado and babassu palm forest environments.

Diet

The diet consists mostly of ants, particularly species such as Camponotus depressus and Azteca fasciata that inhabit bamboo. Foraging is observed singly, in pairs, or in family groups, and involves drilling holes in dry bamboo to access ant nests inside.

Did you know?

The bird was feared to be extinct for 80 years after its type specimen was collected in 1926, until a male was unexpectedly captured in 2006 in a location approximately 350 km away.