Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Overview

Hoffmann's woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii) is a species of woodpecker found in Central America. It is a year-round resident ranging from southwestern Honduras through Nicaragua to central Costa Rica, with a single recorded presence in El Salvador.

Identification

• Length 18–21 cm, weighing 62–84 g, with a black bill, hazel irises, and bluish-grey to grey legs.
• Adult males feature a bright red crown and bright yellow or orange nape, whereas females have a dull white crown and pale yellow nape.
• Both sexes possess drab yellowish-grey faces and throats, a bright yellow central belly, and black-and-white barred backs and flight feathers.
• The primary call is a 'churrr', accompanied by querulous, grating 'woick-a' or 'wicka' sounds, and the bird frequently drums on dead wood or metal structures.

Habitat

This species inhabits dry and deciduous forests, as well as open areas including shade coffee plantations, urban parks, and house gardens. It is found from sea level up to 400 m in Honduras, 800 m in Nicaragua, and over 2,100 m in Costa Rica.

Diet

Hoffmann's woodpecker forages from the understory to the canopy, though it has been observed feeding on the ground. Its diet consists mainly of arthropods extracted from decaying trunks and branches, supplemented by various fruits, nectar from large flowers, and occasionally the eggs of other birds.

Did you know?

While often associated with dead wood, the species has been observed drumming on metal structures and is known to increase its distribution following deforestation, although the removal of dead trees negatively impacts nesting opportunities.