White-bellied Piculet

Overview

The white-bellied piculet (Picumnus spilogaster) is a small bird in the subfamily Picumninae of the woodpecker family, Picidae. It is currently rated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with deforestation for agriculture and ranching identified as its primary threat.

Identification

• Length 8 to 9.2 cm and weight 7 to 12 g.
• Adult males have a black cap with a red forehead patch and white spots; females lack the red patch.
• Upperparts are olive brown with diffuse pale grayish barring, while the belly is creamy white with wide black spots.
• Vocalisation consists of a very high to extremely high descending, shivering, slow trill.

Habitat

Found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela, the species inhabits a variety of wooded landscapes including rainforest, gallery forest, deciduous forest, mangroves, and open woodland. It ranges in elevation from near sea level to approximately 100 m.

Diet

The white-bellied piculet has been observed feeding in pairs, but nothing is currently known about its specific diet or foraging technique.

Did you know?

The species' conservation status has shifted significantly, having been originally assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN before being downgraded to Vulnerable in 2012.