Bar-bellied Woodpecker

Overview

The bar-bellied woodpecker (Dryobates nigriceps, formerly placed in Veniliornis) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where it inhabits various montane forest types.

Identification

• Males and females share similar plumage except on the head; males are red from forehead to nape with black feather bases showing, while females have a black crown and golden nape.
• The bird is 17 to 20 cm long, with dark olive-brown faces marked by thin white stripes behind and below the eye.
• Underparts are buffish white with an olive tinge and wide dark olive bars; the beak is gray to blue-gray with a lighter mandible, and legs are gray to olive-gray.
• Vocalisations include up to 25 high-pitched 'kee' notes rising before dropping, along with soft 'chik' and high descending 'kzzrr' sounds.

Habitat

The species inhabits humid to wet montane forest, elfin forest, and occasionally Polylepis woodland, favouring dense undergrowth especially of Chusquea bamboo. Its range spans from the central Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador and into Peru and Bolivia, mostly at elevations between 2,600 and 3,600 m.

Diet

The bar-bellied woodpecker forages at all levels of the forest but spends much time in dense undergrowth, often joining mixed-species flocks. It feeds by pecking and flaking bark and probing among patches of moss, though specific dietary details are unknown.

Did you know?

This species is likely overlooked by observers owing to its unobtrusive habits, even though it occurs within several protected areas.