Ochraceous Piculet

Overview

The ochraceous piculet (Picumnus limae) is a small woodpecker species endemic to north-eastern Brazil. It inhabits a wide range of forest types within the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest ecoregions and is currently listed as a species of Least Concern.

Identification

• Approximately 10 cm long and weighing between 8 and 12 g, with a gray bill that has a blackish tip and brown irises.
• Adult males display a black cap with red tips on the forehead feathers and small white spots, while females lack the red on the forehead.
• Upperparts range from grayish to brownish with a whitish nape, and underparts vary from whitish yellow to rusty brown, sometimes featuring paler streaks.
• Song consists of a series of high-pitched, fast trills described as 'tee-tee-tee-titiwi' in northern populations, transitioning to 'see-see-see-sisi-wi' in the south.

Habitat

Found in north-eastern Brazil from Ceará south to Sergipe and inland into Piauí, this species occupies landscapes within the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest ecoregions. It ranges from rather dry open forests in the north to dense humid ones in the south, and is a year-round resident that can also be found in human-modified environments such as urban parks.

Diet

Little specific detail is known about the foraging behaviour and diet of the ochraceous piculet, though it is confirmed to feed on small branches and include insect larvae in its diet.

Did you know?

Breeding pairs excavate nest holes not only in tree trunks but also in fence posts, typically placing them between 1 and 4 m above the ground.