Greyish Piculet

Overview

The greyish piculet (Picumnus granadensis) is a small woodpecker belonging to the subfamily Picumninae. It is an endemic species found exclusively in Colombia and is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Length of 9 to 10 cm with a weight of 12 to 13 g.
• Males display a black crown and nape with small yellow tips on the front and top, while females have white spots on the whole crown without yellow.
• Dark brown flight feathers edged in yellowish green and a tail with white inner webs on the innermost feathers and white stripes on the outer pairs.
• Brown iris, black beak, gray-blue bare skin around the eye, and legs that are gray with a green or blue tinge.

Habitat

This species inhabits semi-open landscapes such as the edges of dry to somewhat humid primary and secondary forests, scrublands, and open woodlands. Its range is restricted to western Colombia, with the nominate subspecies found from the middle and upper reaches of the Rio Cauca south to the upper Rio Patía, and the antioquensis subspecies in northwestern Colombia on the western slope of the Western Andes. It typically occurs at elevations between 800 and 2,100 m, though it may descend to 600 m in the northern part of its range.

Did you know?

Despite the lack of detailed knowledge on its specific foraging techniques or diet, it is assumed to be similar to that of the olivaceous piculet (Picumnus olivaceus), its sister species.