Yellow-vented Woodpecker

Overview

The yellow-vented woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae, found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It resides primarily in humid montane forests, particularly cloud forests, across these South American countries.

Identification

• Measures 16 to 17 cm long with a medium-long blackish bill that has a paler base.
• Males feature a red forehead to nape with black feather bases showing through, while females are entirely blackish in this area.
• Underparts are greenish white, turning yellow on the flanks and belly, marked with heavy olive-blackish bars.
• Legs are dark olive-gray and the iris ranges from brown to red-brown.

Habitat

Inhabits humid montane forest, especially cloud forest, and is seldom found outside mature primary forest. Its elevation range is mostly between 1,200 and 2,700 m, though it occurs as low as 700 m in Peru.

Diet

Forages from the middle strata to the canopy of the forest, usually singly or in pairs, though it occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. It spends long periods at one spot hammering on tree trunks or branches, but no specific details of its diet are known.

Did you know?

Despite being a woodpecker, the species is not very vocal, producing only a fast, rattled 'krrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' sound.