Checkered Woodpecker

Overview

The checkered woodpecker is a small species in the woodpecker family Picidae, currently classified under the genus Dryobates by some authorities. It is native to South America, with a distribution spanning Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Identification

• Approximately 14 cm in length, featuring generally white underparts with dark brown streaks on the breast and belly, and brown bars on the flanks.
• Upperparts are blackish-brown with whitish or brownish-white bars; flight and tail feathers are deep brown with narrow white bars.
• Males possess a red or orange-red nape, whereas the female's nape is black and the male's crown has white or buffish streaks absent in the female.
• Vocalisations include a short "peek" and a rhythmic "we-we-we...", along with a trilling "ti-ti-ti-ti..." used for long-distance contact.

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits humid open woodlands and gallery forests, though it also occurs in savanna and cerrado woodlands. Subspecies V. m. berlepschi is found in arid bushlands characterised by Prosopis mesquite. Elevation ranges from near sea level to approximately 600 m.

Diet

Foraging is conducted singly or in pairs, typically on small branches of bushes and trees. The diet consists mainly of insects and seeds, which are acquired by gleaning and probing.

Did you know?

Although the checkered woodpecker is assessed as being of Least Concern with a very large range, it appears to be very local in its distribution for reasons not understood.