South America hosts one of the most diverse woodpecker populations on Earth, with species ranging from thumbnail-sized piculets to crow-sized powerhouses that can excavate nests in the hardest woods.
Whether you’re planning a birding expedition through the Amazon rainforest or exploring the windswept forests of Patagonia, you’ll encounter these remarkable birds drilling, drumming, and foraging across nearly every habitat on the continent.
This guide introduces you to 24 distinct types of woodpeckers in South America, helping you identify each species by their unique markings, calls, and behaviors while revealing the fascinating ecosystems they inhabit.
1. Lineated Woodpecker
The Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) ranks among South America’s largest and most recognizable woodpecker species, measuring up to 14 inches in length.
You’ll immediately notice the striking red crest that adorns both males and females, though males display an additional red malar stripe extending from the bill. Bold white stripes run down the neck and back, creating dramatic contrast against jet-black plumage.
Pro Tip: Listen for their loud, ringing call that carries over half a mile through forest canopy—it’s often your first clue to their presence before spotting them.
These powerful birds inhabit forests, woodlands, and even parks from Mexico through Central America and across most of South America, excluding the highest Andes peaks.
They excavate large rectangular holes while foraging for beetle larvae, ants, and termites beneath bark. Pairs maintain territories year-round and often reuse the same roosting cavity for multiple seasons. Their populations remain stable across most ranges due to their adaptability to both primary and secondary forests.
2. Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Watch for the spectacular Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucos) in lowland tropical forests east of the Andes. This crow-sized species reaches 13-14 inches and commands attention with its entirely crimson head and crest. Males sport a distinctive red facial stripe, while females show a broad white stripe below the eye, making field identification straightforward.
You’ll find these woodpeckers in primary and mature secondary forests across the Amazon basin, where they favor tall trees in the mid to upper canopy. They specialize in excavating deep into dead wood to extract beetle larvae and wood-boring insects. Their powerful bills can penetrate even the hardest tropical hardwoods. Conservation organizations monitor their populations as indicators of forest health, since they require large territories of mature forest—typically 100-150 acres per pair.
3. Powerful Woodpecker
The Powerful Woodpecker (Campephilus pollens) lives up to its name as one of South America’s most robust species. Found exclusively in montane forests along the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia, this species thrives at elevations between 3,000 and 11,000 feet where few other large woodpeckers venture.
Key Insight: Despite their size and strength, Powerful Woodpeckers face habitat pressure from deforestation in Andean cloud forests, making each sighting particularly valuable for conservation data.
Males display a brilliant red head and crest, while females show black forecrowns with red restricted to the rear crown and nape. Both sexes feature bold white stripes running from the bill down the sides of the neck and back. They excavate nest cavities in large dead or dying trees, and these cavities later provide crucial nesting sites for various other bird species. Their specialized diet focuses on beetle larvae found in moss-covered bark, requiring the mature, humid forests that characterize their mountain habitat.
4. Magellanic Woodpecker
Standing as South America’s largest woodpecker species, the Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) measures an impressive 14-16 inches from bill to tail. You’ll encounter this magnificent bird in the temperate forests of southern Chile and Argentina, from Araucanía to Tierra del Fuego.
The sexual dimorphism is striking: males are almost entirely black with a brilliant scarlet head and crest that seems to glow in the dappled forest light, while females wear black plumage with a distinctive recurved black crest and just a small red patch at the base of the bill. Both sexes possess powerful, chisel-like bills perfectly adapted for excavating nest cavities in massive southern beech trees.
| Characteristic | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Head Color | Entirely scarlet | Black with small red patch |
| Crest Style | Forward-pointing red crest | Recurved black crest |
| Body Plumage | Solid black | Solid black |
| Size | 14-16 inches | 14-16 inches |
These woodpeckers require old-growth Nothofagus forests with large, standing dead trees for nesting. They forage primarily on wood-boring beetle larvae, often creating extensive excavations that scar tree trunks. Their loud, resonant drumming can be heard echoing through pristine forests, though their populations face pressure from logging of old-growth forests throughout their range.
5. Helmeted Woodpecker
The critically endangered Helmeted Woodpecker (Celeus galeatus) represents one of South America’s rarest bird species. This medium-sized woodpecker, measuring about 11 inches, survives in scattered Atlantic Forest fragments across southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.
Important Note: With fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild, every confirmed sighting contributes vital data to conservation efforts.
You can identify this species by its distinctive pale buff to cream-colored plumage with bold black barring on the back and wings. Males display a bright red malar stripe and forecrown, while females lack the red facial markings but share the impressive bushy crest that gives the species its name. They require mature Atlantic Forest with abundant bamboo thickets—their primary foraging substrate—where they extract insects from bamboo culms and branches.
The species faces severe threats from habitat loss, as less than 12% of original Atlantic Forest remains. Conservation programs focus on protecting and connecting forest fragments, with particular emphasis on preserving stands that contain both mature trees for nesting and bamboo for foraging.
6. Cream-backed Woodpecker
The Cream-backed Woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon) brings warm colors to South American forests with its distinctive cream to buff-colored back contrasting sharply against black wings and tail. This large woodpecker, reaching 11-12 inches, inhabits forests and woodlands across eastern and central South America.
Males sport an entirely red head and prominent crest, while females display a more subdued pattern with black forecrowns and red restricted to the rear crown and nape. Both sexes show a bold white line extending from the bill down the neck sides. You’ll often spot pairs or family groups foraging together, methodically working their way up tree trunks while searching for beetle larvae and ants.
Their habitat flexibility allows them to thrive in various forest types, from humid lowland forests to dry woodlands and even parks with mature trees. They excavate nest cavities in dead or dying trees, typically 15-30 feet above ground. Unlike some specialist woodpeckers, their adaptable nature and broad diet help maintain stable populations across their range, making them relatively common sights for birders exploring South American woodlands.
7. Robust Woodpecker
True to its name, the Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus) displays a stocky, powerful build perfectly suited for its specialized foraging behavior. This large species, measuring 12-13 inches, inhabits Atlantic Forest remnants in southeastern Brazil, where it faces similar conservation challenges as the Helmeted Woodpecker.
You’ll recognize males by their striking appearance: entirely red head and crest, black upperparts with a distinctive cream-colored back, and bold white stripes extending down the neck. Females show similar patterns but with black forecrowns and red limited to the rear crown and nape. Both sexes possess notably thick, powerful bills adapted for excavating deep into hardwood trees.
Common Mistake: Confusing Robust Woodpeckers with Cream-backed Woodpeckers in overlapping ranges—look for the Robust’s stockier build and preference for higher elevations in montane Atlantic Forest.
These woodpeckers specialize in foraging on large, dead trees and dying branches in the forest canopy, where they excavate extensively for beetle larvae. They require territories containing mature forest with abundant dead wood—resources increasingly scarce as Atlantic Forest continues to face fragmentation. Current population estimates suggest fewer than 10,000 individuals remain, warranting ongoing conservation attention.
8. White Woodpecker
The White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus) offers one of South America’s most distinctive woodpecker sightings. As its name suggests, this medium-sized species displays predominantly white plumage that makes it highly visible against dark tree bark. Males show bright yellow to orange bare skin around the eyes and a black tail, while females have similar patterns with slightly duller facial coloration.
Found across open woodlands, savannas, and agricultural areas from Suriname and Brazil south to Argentina and Uruguay, these adaptable birds thrive in human-modified landscapes better than most woodpecker species. They forage on tree trunks and branches but also commonly descend to ground level to capture insects, particularly ants and termites.
White Woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead trees, fence posts, or utility poles—their flexibility in nest site selection contributes to their success in agricultural regions. Pairs often raise two broods per season, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties. Their populations remain stable and even benefit from certain agricultural practices that maintain scattered trees and wooden structures.
9. Campo Flicker
Despite its name, the Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) belongs to the woodpecker family and displays typical woodpecker characteristics alongside some unique adaptations. This large, terrestrial species measures 11-13 inches and inhabits open grasslands, savannas, and agricultural areas across central and eastern South America.
You’ll easily identify this species by its striking appearance: golden-yellow underwings visible in flight, barred black and white back, and distinctive black crescent on the breast. Males sport black malar stripes, while females lack these markings.
Unlike most woodpeckers, Campo Flickers spend considerable time foraging on the ground, using their slightly curved bills to probe soil for ants, beetles, and other insects.
- Habitat Selection: Prefer open areas with scattered trees and short grass
- Foraging Technique: Hop along ground while probing for insects with specialized tongue
- Nesting Strategy: Excavate cavities in earth banks, termite mounds, or isolated dead trees
- Social Behavior: Often seen in pairs or small family groups maintaining year-round territories
These adaptable woodpeckers thrive in pastures, golf courses, and even urban parks, making them one of the most commonly observed woodpecker species across their range. Their populations remain stable due to their ability to exploit human-modified landscapes while maintaining their ecological role as both predators and cavity-providers for other species.
10. Little Woodpecker
The Little Woodpecker (Dryobates passerinus) lives up to its name as one of South America’s smallest true woodpecker species, measuring just 5.5-6 inches. Despite its diminutive size, this energetic bird maintains territories across diverse habitats from dry forests to tropical rainforests throughout much of South America.
Pro Tip: Their high-pitched “peek” calls and rapid drumming on small dead branches often reveal their presence in dense foliage where they’re otherwise difficult to spot.
Males display a distinctive red crown and nape, black-and-white barred back, and white underparts with variable spotting or streaking. Females show similar patterns but with black crowns lacking any red coloration.
You’ll often observe these woodpeckers foraging on small branches and twigs in the outer canopy—niches avoided by larger woodpecker species—where they glean insects, larvae, and small arthropods from bark crevices.
Their small size allows them to exploit food resources unavailable to larger woodpeckers, including insects living on branches as thin as pencils. They excavate nest cavities in dead stubs or decaying branches, typically creating entrance holes barely larger than a quarter.
Pairs maintain territories year-round and often roost in separate cavities outside the breeding season. Their adaptability and varied diet contribute to stable populations across their extensive range.
11. Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
Look for distinctive yellow feather tufts when identifying the Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus), a medium-sized species inhabiting lowland tropical forests throughout the Amazon basin.
These eye-catching golden-yellow tufts frame the face, while males sport bright red crowns and napes that contrast beautifully against olive-brown backs.
This social species often forages in pairs or small family groups, moving through the forest canopy while searching for fruits, insects, and nectar.
Unlike many woodpeckers that focus exclusively on wood-boring insects, Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers consume substantial amounts of fruit—particularly figs and palm fruits—making them important seed dispersers in tropical ecosystems.
You’ll find them in terra firme forests, várzea (seasonally flooded) forests, and forest edges throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They excavate nest cavities in dead palm snags or softwood trees, often selecting sites near forest edges or gaps where dead wood is abundant.
Their loud, rolling calls echo through forests, and pairs frequently engage in vocal duets that help maintain territory boundaries. Population trends remain stable thanks to the vast extent of relatively intact forest within their core range.
12. Chestnut Woodpecker
The Chestnut Woodpecker (Celeus elegans) ranks among South America’s most beautiful woodpecker species, displaying rich chestnut-brown plumage that seems to glow in dappled forest light.
This medium-to-large woodpecker, measuring 10-11 inches, inhabits humid lowland forests from Honduras through Central America and across Amazonia to southeastern Brazil.
Males feature pale yellow to buff-colored heads with prominent bushy crests and distinctive red malar stripes extending from the base of the bill.
Females display similar chestnut coloration but lack the red facial markings. Both sexes possess strong, slightly curved bills ideal for their specialized foraging behavior: extracting insects from arboreal ant and termite nests.
Key Insight: Chestnut Woodpeckers show remarkable subspecies variation across their range, with at least 12 recognized subspecies displaying different head colors ranging from pale buff to dark cinnamon.
These woodpeckers typically forage in the mid-story and canopy of mature forests, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks. They excavate nest cavities in dead trees or dead sections of living trees, usually selecting sites concealed by epiphytes or vine tangles.
Their preference for mature forest with complex structure makes them sensitive to logging, though they persist in large forest fragments better than some specialist species.
13. Blood-colored Woodpecker
The dramatically named Blood-colored Woodpecker (Veniliornis sanguineus) displays deep crimson-red underparts that justify its evocative common name. This small-to-medium woodpecker, measuring 6-7 inches, inhabits montane forests along the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia, typically at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet.
Males show red heads and underparts with olive-brown backs and wings, while females display similar patterns but with olive-brown heads lacking any red coloration. You’ll often spot these woodpeckers in pairs foraging on moss-covered trunks and branches in cloud forests, where they extract insects and larvae from beneath epiphytes and bark.
Their habitat specialization reflects adaptations to cool, humid montane conditions—environments that support abundant insect life beneath moss and lichen growth. They excavate nest cavities in dead stubs or decaying branches, often selecting sites protected by overhanging moss or vegetation. While not currently threatened, their reliance on intact cloud forest makes them vulnerable to habitat conversion, particularly at lower elevations where agricultural expansion continues.
14. White-spotted Woodpecker
The White-spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates spilogaster) creates striking patterns with bold white spots arranged across its black wings and back. This small woodpecker, measuring 6-7 inches, inhabits Atlantic Forest remnants and adjacent habitats in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.
You can distinguish males by their red crowns and napes, while females show entirely black crowns. Both sexes display heavily spotted backs and wings that provide excellent camouflage against tree bark dappled with lichens and fungi. Their buff-colored underparts often show dark streaking or spotting, particularly on the flanks and belly.
| Feature | Description | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Spotted Pattern | White spots on black wings/back | Camouflage against lichen-covered bark |
| Short Bill | Relatively small, straight bill | Adapted for gleaning vs. deep excavation |
| Size | 6-7 inches | Allows access to small branches and twigs |
| Habitat Preference | Forest edges and secondary growth | Tolerates moderate disturbance |
These adaptable woodpeckers tolerate degraded habitats better than many Atlantic Forest specialists, often foraging in secondary forests, forest edges, and even parks with mature trees. They glean insects from bark surfaces and probe shallow crevices rather than excavating deeply, allowing them to exploit partially decayed wood unsuitable for larger species. Their populations remain relatively stable within available habitat, though continued forest loss poses ongoing concerns.
15. Green-barred Woodpecker
The Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros) brings vibrant yellow-green and golden hues to South American woodlands. This medium-to-large ground-foraging species measures 10-11 inches and inhabits open woodlands, savannas, and agricultural areas from central Brazil through Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
You’ll immediately notice the distinctive barred pattern: yellow-green upperparts with bold black barring, golden-yellow rump visible in flight, and heavily spotted underparts. Males display red malar stripes and red forecrowns, while females show black malar stripes and lack the red forecrown. Like other ground-foraging woodpeckers, they possess long, barbed tongues perfect for capturing ants—their primary food source.
Pro Tip: Watch for Green-barred Woodpeckers in early morning when they actively forage on lawns and short-grass areas, often becoming quite tolerant of human presence.
These woodpeckers spend significant time on the ground, hopping awkwardly while probing for ant colonies and other insects. They excavate nest cavities in trees, fence posts, or even earthen banks, showing remarkable flexibility in site selection. Their loud, far-carrying calls include laughing series of notes that carry across open landscapes. Populations thrive in human-modified environments, and the species has expanded its range in some areas due to forest clearing creating preferred open habitats.
16. Golden-green Woodpecker
Shimmering golden-green plumage distinguishes the Golden-green Woodpecker (Piculus chrysochloros) across its extensive South American range. This medium-sized species, measuring 7-8 inches, inhabits forests, woodlands, and wooded habitats from Panama through most of South America east of the Andes to northern Argentina.
Males feature red malar stripes extending from the bill backward along the jaw line, while females show buff or brownish malar stripes. Both sexes display bright golden-green backs, wings, and tails that catch light beautifully in forest settings, along with boldly barred flanks and distinctive red crowns. Their relatively long, slightly curved bills help them extract insects from narrow crevices and beneath tight bark.
You’ll often encounter these woodpeckers in secondary forests, forest edges, parks, and gardens—habitats they exploit more readily than many forest specialists. They forage primarily on tree trunks and large branches, moving methodically while probing bark crevices and epiphyte clumps for beetles, ants, and other arthropods. Their adaptability extends to nest site selection, with pairs excavating cavities in various dead or decaying wood sources. Strong populations persist throughout their range due to habitat flexibility and tolerance of human presence.
17. Scaly-headed Woodpecker
The Scaly-headed Woodpecker (Celeus grammicus) displays an unusual feather pattern that creates its distinctive scaled appearance. This medium-sized species, measuring 8-9 inches, inhabits humid lowland forests across the Guiana Shield region of northeastern South America, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil.
You’ll recognize this species by its unique head pattern: cinnamon-buff feathers with dark edges creating a scaled or scalloped effect. Males show red malar stripes, while females lack any red facial markings. Both sexes feature chestnut-brown bodies with fine barring on the back and wings, and their prominent bushy crests add to their distinctive appearance.
Key Insight: The scaled head pattern serves as excellent camouflage against bark covered with flaking lichen and peeling patches, allowing these woodpeckers to forage in plain sight.
These woodpeckers specialize in foraging on arboreal ant and termite colonies, using their strong bills to breach nest walls and extract insects with their long, sticky tongues. They typically forage in the mid-story to canopy of mature terra firme forests, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks.
Their relatively restricted range and preference for undisturbed forest makes population monitoring important, though they remain common within appropriate habitat.
18. Checkered Woodpecker
The Checkered Woodpecker (Dryobates mixtus) creates eye-catching patterns with bold black-and-white checkering across its plumage.
This small woodpecker, measuring 5.5-6.5 inches, inhabits various wooded habitats from southern Brazil through Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego, making it one of South America’s most southerly-distributed woodpecker species.
Males display red crowns and napes, while females show entirely black crowns with white forehead spots. Both sexes feature heavily checkered upperparts—with black and white creating an almost quilted appearance—and white or buff underparts with dark streaking. Their small size and agile nature allow them to forage on branches and twigs throughout the canopy.
- Inspect small dead branches and twigs in outer canopy zones
- Glean insects from bark crevices using rapid pecking motions
- Probe beneath loose bark and within small holes
- Occasionally descend to ground to capture fallen prey
These adaptable woodpeckers thrive in diverse habitats including native forests, eucalyptus plantations, parks, and gardens with scattered trees. They excavate nest cavities in dead branches or soft wood, creating entrance holes proportional to their small size.
Their ability to exploit various food sources and habitat types contributes to stable populations throughout their extensive range, even in regions experiencing habitat modification.
19. Striped Woodpecker
Bold black and white stripes running lengthwise down the back identify the Striped Woodpecker (Dryobates lignarius), a small species measuring 6-7 inches. This woodpecker inhabits various wooded habitats in southern South America, primarily in Chile and Argentina, from central regions to Tierra del Fuego.
Males feature red crowns, while females display black crowns with white forehead areas. Both sexes show distinctive striped patterns on their backs—unlike the checkered or barred patterns of related species—and pale underparts with variable dark markings. Their straight, pointed bills are well-adapted for excavating in both hardwoods and softwoods.
You’ll find Striped Woodpeckers in native Nothofagus forests, araucaria woodlands, riparian forests, and even urban parks with mature trees. They forage primarily on trunks and larger branches, methodically working their way upward while searching for beetle larvae and other wood-boring insects.
Pairs excavate fresh nest cavities each breeding season, typically selecting dead branches or snags at moderate heights. Their populations remain stable across their range, and they show good tolerance for human-modified landscapes that retain scattered trees and woodland patches.
20. Ochre-collared Piculet
The Ochre-collared Piculet (Picumnus temminckii) represents South America’s smallest woodpecker species, measuring just 3.5-4 inches from bill to tail tip. Despite their tiny size, these energetic birds display typical woodpecker behavior including vertical trunk climbing, cavity nesting, and specialized wood-boring insect diets.
Important Note: Piculets lack the stiff tail feathers used by larger woodpeckers for support against tree trunks, instead relying entirely on their strong legs and feet for climbing.
Males feature distinctive red forecrowns with black and white spotting, while females show entirely black forecrowns with white spots. Both sexes display olive-brown backs, white underparts with variable dark streaking, and the namesake ochre-colored collar around the neck. You’ll find them in Atlantic Forest remnants across southeastern Brazil, primarily in mature and secondary forests with abundant small dead wood.
These diminutive woodpeckers forage on small branches, twigs, and bamboo stems, exploiting niches inaccessible to larger species. They feed on tiny beetle larvae, ants, and other arthropods extracted from bark crevices and beneath tight bark.
Pairs excavate remarkably small nest cavities in dead stubs or softwood branches, with entrance holes barely larger than a nickel. Their specialized niche allows them to coexist with numerous other woodpecker species without significant competition.
21. Ocellated Piculet
Eye-like spots or “ocelli” mark the plumage of the Ocellated Piculet (Picumnus dorbignyanus), a tiny woodpecker measuring just 3.5-4 inches. This species inhabits dry forests, woodlands, and scrublands from eastern Bolivia through Paraguay to northern Argentina, occupying drier habitats than most piculet species.
Males show red and black spotted forecrowns, while females display black and white spotted forecrowns without any red. Both sexes feature olive-brown to grayish-brown upperparts with distinctive white spots creating an ocellated or eye-spotted pattern, and whitish underparts with dark streaking. Their relatively long, pointed bills allow them to probe deeply into small crevices despite their tiny size.
You’ll often observe these piculets foraging acrobatically on the terminal branches of shrubs and small trees, frequently hanging upside-down while extracting insects from beneath bark and from within dried seed pods or curled leaves. They inhabit thorn forests, gallery forests along watercourses, and woodland edges—habitats characterized by smaller trees and dense understory vegetation. Pairs maintain small territories year-round and excavate nest cavities in dead branches, fence posts, or even large cacti in some portions of their range.
22. Bar-breasted Piculet
The Bar-breasted Piculet (Picumnus aurifrons) displays distinctive barring across its breast and flanks, distinguishing it from other piculet species. This tiny woodpecker, measuring 3.5-4 inches, inhabits humid lowland forests throughout western Amazonia, from southern Colombia and Ecuador through Peru to northern Bolivia.
Males feature golden-yellow to orange forecrowns, while females show dark forecrowns without yellow coloring. Both sexes display olive-brown backs, white underparts with bold black barring on the breast and flanks, and white spotting on the wings. Their short, slightly upturned bills are perfectly adapted for gleaning insects from bark surfaces and probing shallow crevices.
Pro Tip: Listen for their quiet, insect-like tapping—much softer than larger woodpeckers—often your best clue to their presence in dense understory vegetation.
These piculets typically forage in the forest understory and mid-story, often joining mixed-species flocks that move through bamboo thickets and dense vegetation. They feed primarily on small beetles, ants, and other arthropods gleaned from bark, leaves, and dead wood surfaces.
Their preference for forest interiors with bamboo and dense understory makes them sensitive to logging and forest degradation, though they persist in mature secondary forests. Population trends appear stable within their core Amazonian range.
23. Tawny Piculet
Rich tawny-brown plumage gives the Tawny Piculet (Picumnus fulvescens) its descriptive common name. This tiny species, measuring 3.5-4 inches, inhabits Atlantic Forest remnants and adjacent habitats in southeastern Brazil, primarily in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina.
Males display red and black spotted forecrowns, while females show entirely dark forecrowns with white spots. Both sexes feature uniform tawny-brown to cinnamon-brown upperparts—lacking the barring or spotting seen in many piculet species—and pale buff underparts with fine dark streaking. Their subtle coloration provides excellent camouflage against the cinnamon-colored bark common on Atlantic Forest trees.
You’ll find these piculets in bamboo-rich understory within mature Atlantic Forest, where they forage on bamboo culms, small branches, and dead wood.
They move rapidly through vegetation, pecking at bark surfaces and probing small holes while searching for tiny beetles, ants, and other insects.
Pairs often forage together, maintaining contact through quiet, high-pitched calls. Like other Atlantic Forest specialists, habitat loss poses the primary conservation concern, though the species persists in forest fragments containing appropriate bamboo-rich understory.
24. Rufous-breasted Piculet
The Rufous-breasted Piculet (Picumnus rufiventris) completes this guide with its distinctive rufous-colored underparts. This tiny woodpecker, measuring 3.5-4 inches, inhabits humid lowland forests in southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and southwestern Brazil, particularly in areas with bamboo-dominated understory.
Males feature red and black spotted forecrowns, while females display black and white spotted forecrowns. Both sexes show olive-brown backs with white spotting, and rich rufous-buff to cinnamon underparts that distinguish them from other piculet species in their range. Their specialized bills and behaviors reflect adaptations to foraging on bamboo and small dead wood.
| Piculet Comparison | Ochre-collared | Bar-breasted | Tawny | Rufous-breasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | SE Brazil | Western Amazon | Atlantic Forest | SW Amazon |
| Underpart Color | White with streaks | White with bars | Buff with streaks | Rufous-buff |
| Habitat Specialty | Forest fragments | Bamboo understory | Bamboo-rich forest | Bamboo thickets |
| Crown (Male) | Red/black spots | Golden-yellow | Red/black spots | Red/black spots |
These piculets specialize in foraging on bamboo stands within primary and mature secondary forests, where they extract insects from bamboo culms, branches, and dried leaves. They often join mixed-species flocks moving through understory vegetation.
Their dependence on bamboo-rich habitat makes them sensitive to selective logging that removes understory vegetation, though they adapt to bamboo regrowth in recovering forests. Current population trends appear stable within their core range, though habitat monitoring remains important for long-term conservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Magellanic Woodpecker holds the title, measuring 14-16 inches and inhabiting southern Chile and Argentina’s temperate forests.
Most species do, but ground-foraging species like the Campo Flicker sometimes nest in earth banks or termite mounds instead of trees.
The Helmeted Woodpecker is critically endangered with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining, while the Robust Woodpecker faces significant habitat pressure in Atlantic Forest fragments.
Yes, they exploit different niches—piculets forage on small branches and twigs that larger woodpeckers cannot access, reducing competition.
They control insect populations, create cavities used by numerous other species, and help decompose dead wood, making them essential ecosystem engineers.
South America’s woodpecker diversity reflects the continent’s remarkable variety of forest types, from Amazonian rainforests to Patagonian temperate woodlands.
Each species has evolved specialized adaptations that allow them to exploit specific niches—whether excavating massive nest cavities in ancient beech trees, gleaning insects from bamboo culms, or foraging on grassland ant colonies.
By learning to identify these 24 types of woodpeckers in South America, you’ll gain deeper appreciation for the ecological complexity of Neotropical forests and the conservation challenges facing these remarkable birds.
Whether you’re planning your first birding expedition or adding to a growing life list, these distinctive species offer rewarding observation opportunities across the continent’s diverse landscapes.
