Golden-green Woodpecker

Overview

The Piculus chrysochloros is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae found across mainland South America and Panama. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing despite a large range and an estimated half million mature individuals.

Identification

• Length ranges from 18 to 27 cm with a weight of 55 to 91 g.
• Males of the nominate subspecies have a red forehead to nape, whereas females lack this red, featuring olive head plumage instead.
• Upperparts are olive green with darker flight and tail feathers, while underparts are pale yellow-buff with olive-brown bars.
• Song consists of a series of 15 almost toneless, hoarse 'schraah' notes, described as sounding like a hysterically crying baby.

Habitat

This species inhabits a wide variety of wooded landscapes, including terra firme and várzea forests, rainforests, deciduous forests, and open areas such as treed savannahs and pastures. It ranges from sea level up to 650 m in several regions, acting as a year-round resident throughout its distribution in Panama and South American countries excluding Chile and Uruguay.

Diet

The golden-green woodpecker mostly forages in the subcanopy and canopy, either alone, in pairs, or within mixed-species flocks. It feeds by gleaning, pecking, and excavating, with a diet known to include ants and termites.

Did you know?

Despite having an extremely large range and a population of at least half a million, the species is not particularly well known. It can be found anywhere from rare to 'not uncommon' depending on the location, yet occurs in several protected areas.