Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Overview

The yellow-throated woodpecker (Piculus flavigula) is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing despite an extensive range across South America.

Identification

• Measures 19 to 20 cm in length and weighs 44 to 63 g.
• Males of the nominate subspecies are red from forehead to hindneck and on the malar, with a bright golden-yellow chin and throat; females lack the red malar and have a golden-yellow crown with green feather tips.
• Upperparts are yellowish green, while underparts are green with whitish-centred, black-tipped breast feathers and scaly black patterns on the belly.
• Song consists of a series of 1-7 high, hoarse, angry-sounding 'vraah' notes, accompanied by far-carrying hissing calls.

Habitat

Found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, this species inhabits the interior and edges of mature terra firme and várzea forests. Subspecies P. f. erythropis is mostly found in the drier caatinga habitat of eastern Brazil. It is a lowland species ranging from sea level to 500 m in elevation.

Diet

The bird forages from the forest's middle levels to the canopy, either alone, in pairs, or in mixed-species feeding flocks. It seeks food vigorously by pecking, hammering, and flaking off bark, less often probing. Its specific diet has not been fully studied but is known to include ants.

Did you know?

The specific epithet flavigula is derived from Latin words meaning 'yellow' and 'throat', directly referencing the bird's most striking facial feature.