Golden-spangled Piculet

Overview

The golden-spangled piculet (Picumnus exilis) is a species of woodpecker in the subfamily Picumninae. It is a small, year-round resident found across northern and northeastern South America. The species is currently assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Males have a black cap and nape with red spots on the forehead, while females have white spots on the entire crown.
• Measures 9 to 10 cm in length and weighs 8.5 to 10 g, with olive green upperparts and pale yellowish underparts marked by blackish bars.
• Legs are greyish, sometimes with a green or blue tinge, and the beak has a black maxilla with a mandible that is black with a silvery base.
• Songs include "tsilit, tsirrrr" and an extra-high, thin "see see suw."

Habitat

Found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Inhabits rain, cloud, and secondary forests, as well as bamboo tracts, mangroves, open woodland, and savanna edges. Ranges in elevation from sea level up to approximately 1,900 m in the tepui region.

Diet

The diet is known to include ants, though it has not been fully defined. The bird forages in the forest's lower strata, typically below 5 m, mostly on small branches and sometimes hanging upside down. It usually forages alone or in pairs, and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks.

Did you know?

Because the golden-spangled piculet is often found in more open habitats, including disturbed forest, human activities may possibly lead to its range being expanded.