Bar-breasted Piculet

Overview

The bar-breasted piculet (Picumnus aurifrons) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family and is the smallest extant species within this highly diverse group. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Measures approximately 7.5 cm in length and weighs between 8 to 10 g, making it the smallest woodpecker.
• Males of the nominate subspecies have a black crown with yellow forehead streaks and white spots, while females have white spots across their entire crown.
• Underparts are yellowish white with brown barring on the breast, arrowhead-shaped marks on the sides, and broad streaks on the flanks.
• Vocalisations include calls described as "tsirrrit-tsit-tsit" and a very thin, extrinsically high "see-see-suw".

Habitat

Found in the Amazon Basin across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, the species primarily inhabits the edges and clearings of humid tropical terra firme forest, as well as várzea and secondary forests. Its elevation range extends from near sea level up to 1,100 m.

Diet

The bar-breasted piculet is assumed to feed on insects, including insect larvae, and appears to prefer foraging in the upper canopy, although its specific foraging strategy is not well documented.

Did you know?

It is the smallest extant species in the woodpecker family, with adult females averaging just 8.6 g in weight.