Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
A species of Melanerpine Woodpeckers Scientific name : Melanerpes cruentatus Genus : Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, A species of Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Botanical name: Melanerpes cruentatus
Genus: Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
An adult is about 20 cm (8 in) long. The upper parts are mostly bluish-black, as are the cheeks, chin, throat and chest. The breast and belly are red, although the amount of red is variable, and the flanks and lower belly have black and white undulating barring. The rump and upper tail-coverts are white, this being noticeable in flight, and the tail is black. The underside of the wing is barred in black and white. The beak is blackish, the legs grey, and the iris and orbital ring are yellow. The male differs from the female in having a red fore- and mid-crown while the female has these parts black. In northern and western races, the brow is yellow, cream or buff, and the hind-crown ha yellow or golden feathers, these often being tufted, but in southern races, these areas are black. Juveniles are similar to the adults but the upper parts are browner and the underparts are greyer; juveniles of both sexes have some red on the crown and the belly is more orange than red.
Size
19 cm
Nest Placement
Cavity
Habitat
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker predominantly resides in open humid forests, including varzea and terra firme ecosystems, throughout northern South America. These birds thrive from sea level up to approximately 1,200 meters, although this range can extend higher in regions such as Ecuador. They are adept at adapting to various secondary habitats like secondary forests, woodland edges, and areas with standing burnt trees. Notably, yellow-tufted Woodpecker is non-migratory, relying on dead trees for nesting cavities, and can also be increasingly found in urban environments.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
The species is social and gregarious and often forages in groups. Its diet is omnivorous, consisting principally of insects, some of which are caught on the wing, and fruits.
Distribution Area
The yellow-tufted woodpecker is native to northern South America. Its range includes eastern Colombia, western and southern Venezuela, the Guianas, northern and central Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru and eastern Bolivia. Its altitudinal range is from sea level to about 1,200 m (3,900 ft), and even higher in Ecuador. It is a species of open humid forest, both varzea and terra firme forest, and is also found in secondary forest, woodland verges and burnt out areas with isolated standing trees. It is a non-migratory species.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Family
Woodpeckers Genus
Melanerpine Woodpeckers Species
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker