© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Fine-spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Campethera punctuligera
Other: Pic à taches noires
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Central and West Africa, incl Gambia, Senegal
Similar:

I saw Fine-spotted Woodpecker outside Farakunku Lodge and again a few times upriver. Female, above, black moustachial stripe. Male, below, red stripe.

Thanks to Danielle for the shot of a pair of Fine-spotted Woodpeckers in Senegal, further below.

Below, male Fine-spotted Woodpecker on termite nest, Gambia, Mar 2013.


Danielle J • female and male Fine-spotted Woodpeckers • Senegal
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Cardinal Woodpecker
Latin: Dendropicos fuscescens
Other: Fr: Pic cardinal
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar:

The male Cardinal Woodpecker has a red cap. The female (further below) a black cap.

Below, male Cardinal Woodpecker looking out, Gambia, Feb 2013.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: African Grey Woodpecker
Latin: Dendropicos goertae
Other: Pic goertan (Fr)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia to W Ethiopia to NW Tanzania, S Gabon, NW Angola & SC Zaire
Similar:

The female African Grey Woodpecker has a plain grey head - the male has a red crest. Plain shoulders and chest. Several seen at Farakunku Lodge.

Below, female African Grey Woodpecker, Gambia, Feb 2013


More photos...

© monacoeye • Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Barred Piculet
Latin: Picumnus cirratus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-barrado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: SE Brazil, Pananal, Amazonia
Similar: Bar-breasted, Golden-spangled, Ochre-breasted Piculet

A wonderful little piculet with barred underside. Seen at the Regua reserve in RJ state. Males have the red forecrown, females not. In Regua, the White-barred Piculet is the only piculet with barred underside, so it’s a good place to see them.

Below, male White-barred Piculet, Regua, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Pará, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Bar Breasted Piculet
Latin: Picumnus aurifrons
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-dourado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: Brazil Amazonia south of Amazon
Similar: White-bellied Piculet

The Bar-breasted Piculet has a horizontally-barred chest. This female was seen at Rio Azul Lodge in Pará - the male has a dark red forecrown. The Bar-breasted Piculet is the only Piculet with such markings on its underside in most of its range, but there are several piculets near Belem, some of which hybridize with it. As with all piculets, fast-moving!More photos...

© monacoeye • Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Wedged Piculet
Latin: Picumnus albosquamatus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-escamado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: SW Brazil Pantanal, Chapada das Guimarães, Bolivia, Paraguay
Similar: Piculet

The White-wedged Piculet is identified by arrow-shaped marks on its underside, dots on shoulders. Males have a red forecrown, females not. Seen here in Mato Grosso. Very fast moving !

Below, male White-wedged Piculet, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Black Cheeked Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes pucherani
Other: Es: carpintero centroamericano, carpintero cara negra
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: S Mexico to W Ecuador
Similar: Yellow-tufted Woodpecker ?

I had a brief view of a male Black-cheeked Woodpecker in the Canal Zone in central Panama and better views at the Rio Silanche Reserve in NW Ecuador.

The male has a red cap with black band running down from eye to neck and cream coloured face and throat. Small white spot above eye. Blackish back with some white spots or bars. Belly lightly barred. Female only nape is red.

Below, male Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Silanche, Ecuador, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Tufted Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes cruentatus
Other: Es: Carpintero Penachiamarillo; Br: bendito, pica-pau-de-barriga-vermelha
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Similar:

A generally unmistakeable, small, mostly black woodpecker with bright yellow “spectacles” and nape (male). Each time I saw them in the Amazon regions of Ecuador and Brazil, there were several, very visible on dead trees in exposed flooded areas. But a little far for detailed photos. Pretty sure they had nested in one of the dead trees.

Below, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Pará, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Crowned Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes rubricapillus
Other: Carpintero habado (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia to NW Venezuela
Similar:

The Red-Crowned Woodpecker was the most visible of the woodpecker family on my visit to Panama in April. They came to fruit feeders at Canopy Lodge, were seen at Ammo Ponds in the Canal Zone and also in the Chiriqui highlands.

The male (directly below) has a red cap, the female (above) only has some pale red at the back of the head. Otherwise barred back and wings, the rest buffish. Indentifiable in Panama by pale cheeks.

Below, male Red-crowned Woodpecker, Panama, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Fronted Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes flavifrons
Other: Br: Benedito-de-testa-amarela • Es: Carpintero de frente amarilla
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, SE Brazil, Paraguay
Similar: Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

The female Yellow-fronted Woodpecker is easily identifiable in these shots from yellow neck and throat, combined with red chest (red crest in male), yellow above bill, yellow iris, otherwise back head and back, striped belly.More photos...

© monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Acorn Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes formicivorus
Other: Carpintero centroamericano, Carpintero cara negra (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: NW USA, Central America to western Panama, Colombia
Similar:

These Acorn Woodpeckers, seen in Panama, were very charismatic - they would all disappear into their hollow trunk in the blink of an eye, and then reappear just as quickly.

Acorn Woodpeckers have red caps, black backs, pale yellow faces with black-ringed eyes and bills, pale yellow irises. Female have only nape red apparently (these would then be mostly males?) Underparts, chest especially, black and white vertical streaks.

In Panama, only found in the western highlands of Chiriqui.

Below, beautiful Acorn woodpeckers, Chiriqui, Panama, 2010
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© monacoeye • Milpe, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Smoky Brown Woodpecker
Latin: Picoides fumigatus
Other: Es: carpintero café; carpintero ahumado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.
Similar: Little Woodpecker, Red-rumped Woodpecker

The Smoky-brown Woodpecker seems to pass under many birders’ radar - perhaps because it is plain brown with no barring, and in the female has no red or black. So as yet I haven’t found anyone to confirm this photo I took in Milpe Reserve in NW Ecuador.

It looks a little like a woodcreeper, but the zygodactyl (two forwards, two back) arrangement of toes indicates this must be a woodpecker. All woodcreepers have three toes forward and one backwards in a syndactyl (two partially fused) type of anisodactyl (three forwards, one back) toe formation

© monacoeye • Chiriqui, May 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Hairy Woodpecker
Latin: Picoides villosus
Other: Es: pico velloso
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Widespread North America, Middle America to Panama.
Similar:

In Panama, the Hairy Woodpecker is only found in the western highlands. It was not uncommon in the cloud forest above Los Quetzales Lodge in April but only seen feeding high in the trees.

They are mostly black with one white stripe down centre of back. They have white stripes above and below the eye and on nape, males have some red on nape or top of head. They are buffish underneath.More photos...

© monacoeye • Serra dos Tucanos, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Browed Woodpecker
Latin: Piculus aurulentus
Other: Es: carpintero dorado verdoso, carpintero cejigualdo, carpintero verde; Br: pica-pau-dourado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
Similar: Golden-green Woodpecker

I saw this Yellow-browed Woodpecker in the garden at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in upstate Rio de Janeiro. Striped head diagnostic - (from top, red, yellow, olive, yellow, red, yellow) Striped front and plain olive back.

Below, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, RJ state Brazil, 2011.
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© monacoeye • Regua, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Throated Woodpecker
Latin: Piculus flavigula
Other: Es: carpintero gorgigualdo, carpintero cariamarillo, carpintero de cuello amarillo; Br:
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Amazonia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyanas, Venezuela
Similar: White-throated Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker

A fleeting view of a Yellow-throated Woodpecker on one of the trails at Regua. This is Piculus flavigula erythropis, the SE Brazil subspecies, which has a red throat. There are two other separate populations in Bahia and Amazonia.More photos...

© monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Little Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis passerinus
Other: Es: carpintero chico, carpinterito oliváceo, carpintero oliva chico, carpintero ribereño; Br: Picapauzinho-anão
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: E of Andes: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina
Similar: Red-stained Woodpecker

The Little Woodpecker should have a red cap and nape, light supercilium and darker cheek, with a few yellow spots on the wing, slightly indistinct barring below, olive upper parts.

The lowest photos, in a mixed flock on a river island in the Upper Napo region of Ecuador, show a bird without a red nape, which doesn’t fit this description, but still looks more like a Little Woodpecker than any other similar woodpecker, such as Red-stained Woodpecker, so I’ve included it on this page.

Below, Little Woodpecker, Pouso Alegre, Pantanal, 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • SIlanche, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Rumped Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis kirkii
Other: Es: Carpintero lomirrojo
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador, Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago
Similar: Choco Woodpecker

Initially I thought these birds, which I saw in the Silanche Reserve in NW Ecuador, might be the rarer Choco Woodpecker, but looking carefully at the photos I detected some red on the rump, which is diagnostic of the more common Red-rumped Woodpecker, found in the west of Ecuador. The red rump is apparently often not visible. I’ve included the indistinct photos below.More photos...

© monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Stained Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis affinis
Other: Br: pica-pau-fura-laranja
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Amazonia etc
Similar: Red-rumped Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Choco Woodpecker etc

Just saw this one female Red-stained Woodpecker in Pará, Brazil. The male has a red cap. Slight red spotting to wing diagnostic. Barred underside.

© monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis spilogaster
Other: Es: Carpintero oliva manchado, carpintero manchado, carpinterito barrado • Picapauzinho-verde-carijó (Br)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, S Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Similar: Checkered Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker

This presumed White-spotted Woodpecker was more difficult to identify. Note spotted back and barred front.

The White-spotted Woodpecker can be found in the southeast of Brazil and Uruguay etc.

Below, presumed White-spotted Woodpecker, Itatiaia, BrazilMore photos...

© monacoeye • Pichincha, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Golden Olive Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes rubiginosus
Other: Es: carpintero verdidorado • Br: Pica-pau-oliváceo
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Mexico to Argentina
Similar: Golden-green Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker

The Golden-olive Woodpecker seemed the most common mid-sized woodpecker in the Milpe area.

The male Golden-olive Woodpecker has a red moustachial stripe, the female’s (above) is black. The front cap is dark grey, rear cap is red. Upperparts olive, underside barred. Bill dark.

Below, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Ecuador.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Pichincha, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crimson Mantled Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes rivolii
Other: Es: carpintero candela, carpintero dorsicarmesí
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela
Similar: Scarlet-backed Woodpecker

Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers are stunning and not very shy - I managed to observe them on several occasions in different locations in Pichincha, Ecuador, above 1800m. In Ecuador they are found in the inter-Andean montane region.

The female Crimson-mantled Woodpecker above allowed me to follow very closely - she has a black moustachial stripe. She was by the side of the road, rooting through fallen trees in a landslide that had been cleared from the road. The male, below, which has a red moustachial stripe, was near Angel Paz’s house on his bird reserve.

Below, male Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Pichincha, Ecuador
More photos...

© monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe, RS, Brazil, November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Green Barred Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes melanochloros
Other: Pica-pau-verde-barrado (Br) • Pájaro carpintero real (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, S Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Similar:

This Green-barred Woodpecker was easy to hear but not so easy to photograph, in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Green-barred Woodpecker is identified by its red cap at the back of the head, and black cap from near bill to behind eye. Light spotted breast and dark yellow-green and black back. The above photo is of a male, evident from teh red moustachial stripe - females have black moustachial stripes.

More photos...

© monacoeye • Mostardas, Brazil, 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Field Flicker
Latin: Colaptes campestris campestroides
Other: Colaptes campestroides • Campo Flicker • Br: Pica-pau-do-campo, Chanchã, Chanchão, Pica-pau-de-manga, Pica-pau-malhado • Es: Carpintero Campestre
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers • Flickers
Range: S Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina
Similar: Campo Flicker

The Field Flicker is a southern subspecies of Campo Flicker with white throat. Males may have red moustaches (below) and females black moustaches (above).

Below, Field Flicker, showing white throat and reddish moustache, Mostardas, Brazil, 2009
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© monacoeye • Transpantaneira, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Campo Flicker
Latin: Colaptes campestris
Other: Field Flicker • Br: Pica-pau-do-campo, Chanchã, Chanchão, Pica-pau-de-manga, Pica-pau-malhado • Es: Carpintero Campestre
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers • Flickers
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina
Similar:

The Campo Flicker, is a widespread type of flicker, or woodpecker, found in Brazil. Often walks on the ground or perches not far from it, sometimes in exposed areas like lawns or roadsides. Often seen in pairs or groups. Not very timid.

Pictured above is the nominate subspecies, Colaptes c. campestris, which has a black throat, and perhaps more orange than yellow around the throat - photographed here in the Pantanal. Males have a red moustachial stripe and females a black one.

Pictured below is the southern white-throated subspecies, Colaptes campestris campestroides, also called the Field Flicker - photo in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, perched on a rather uncomfortable looking cactus.

Below, Field Flicker, showing white throat, Mostardas, Brazil, 2009
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© monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Pale Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus lugubris
Other: Es: Carpintero lúgubre, cabeza pajiza, copete pajizo, cabeza blanca • Br: Pica-pau-louro
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: C Bolivia, Brazil Pantanal, C Paraguay, N Argentina
Similar: Blond-crested Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker

A superb woodpecker with a wonderful shock of white hair. Seen around the compound at Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal especially, often climbing tall thin trees. Similar to the Blond-crested Woodpecker seen further east in Brazil. The male (above) Pale-crested Woodpecker has a red cheek, the female’s (further below) is dark brown.

In Brazil, only found in the extreme central west region, encompassing the Pantanal, Chapada das Guimaraes etc.

Below, male Pale-crested Woodpecker in flight, Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Regua, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Blond Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus flavescens
Other: Es: carpintero amarillento, de cabeza amarilla, copete amarillo, de cresta rubia • Br: Pica-pau-de-cabeça-amarela
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: E Brazil, SE Paraguay, NE Argentina
Similar: Pale Crested Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker

The Blond-crested Woodpecker is another beauty with a shock of “blond hair”. I only saw them on very misty mornings at Regua, so the photos are dull. Similar to the Pale-crested Woodpecker which lives in the Pantanal but separated geographically but Blond-crested Woodpecker has a blacker body.

The male’s moustachial stripe is red and the female’s black.

Below, male Blond-crested Woodpecker, upstate Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Para, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Scaly Breasted Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus grammicus
Other: “Scale-breasted Woodpecker” (Ridgely & Greenfield/Ecuador) • Es: carpintero rojizo, carpintero culiamarillo • Br: Picapauzinho-chocolate • Fr: Pic de Verreaux
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Venezuela.
Similar: Chestnut Woodpecker, Cinnamon Woodpecker

Just record shots of the Scaly-breasted Woodpecker in Pará, Brazil.More photos...

© monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Cinnamon Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus loricatus
Other: Es: carpintero canelo
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: SE Guatemala, Nicaragua, Coast Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Ecuador
Similar: Ringed Woodpecker, Chestnut Woodpecker, Scaly-brested Woodpecker

The Cinnamon Woodpecker is an attractive brown forest woodpecker. I saw them in northwest Ecuador and central PanamaMore photos...

© monacoeye • Para, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crimson Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus melanoleucos
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-topete-vermelho • Es: picamaderos barbinegro, carpintero marcial • Fr: Pic de Malherbe
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Panama to northern Argentina
Similar: Lineated Woodpecker

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker is a large woodpecker, similar-looking to the Lineated Woodpecker. One main difference is that the two white stripes on its back are narrow and converge in a v, unlike those of the Lineated Woodpecker which are widely spaced.

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker male (further below) has a mostly red head, with a black and white “badge” on the ear coverts. The female (above and below) has a broad white stripe on face and black forehead. Throat black, underside swirly stripes.More photos...

© monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Guayaquil Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus gayaquilensis
Other: Es: Carpintero guayaquileño
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: SW Colombia, Ecuador, NW Peru
Similar: Crimson-crested, Lineated, Powerful Woodpecker

The three Guayaquil Woodpeckers above were also seen on my first day, on the journey from the airport to Nanegal.

The male Guayaquil Woodpeckers (on left of trunk) has a badge on the cheek; the female, a broad white line running from the bill down the neck. The female has no black on crest, unlike Powerful and Lineated. The male has no white near bill, unlike Powerful.

The Guayaquil Woodpecker is classed as Near Threatened on IUCN 3.1 from habitat loss.

Directly below, a female Guayaquil Woodpecker near Nanegal, NW Ecuador.


Directly below, a male Guayaquil Woodpecker in the Rio Silanche Reserve, Ecuador.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Powerful Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus pollens
Other: Es: Carpintero poderoso
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Similar: Lineated Woodpecker, Guayaquil Woodpecker

These photos hardly count as record shots, but Powerful Woodpeckers were quite often seen near a piece of cultivated land at the Santa Lucia Reserve in Ecuador, where they had nested in a tree hole. Unfortunately always on very foggy mornings and at a great distance. Females have no red on head.More photos...

© monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Lineated Woodpecker
Latin: Dryocopus lineatus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-banda-branca • Es: picamaderos listado, carpintero crestirrojo, carpintero real, carpintero de garganta estriada, pito negro listado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar: Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Powerful Woodpecker etc

The Lineated Woodpecker is found throughout most of South and Central America north of Argentina, including all of Brazil. Was seen fairly frequently in Panama, Ecuador, Brazil.

The Lineated Woodpecker has a red crest, and white face stripe, relatively thin usually, which extends down neck - red malar stripe (see below) on male, dark on the female (photo above). The chest is dark, with variable amounts of horizontal barring on underside, depending on race.

The Lineated Woodpecker usually has two widely-spaced white vertical bands on its back, differentiating it from the Crimson Crested Woodpecker which has narrow bands which meet in “v”. It also has a large dark grey patch behind the eye unlike most of the Campephilus woodpeckers.

Below, male Lineated Woodpecker, Pantanal, Brazil, showing red facial stripe
More photos...

© monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Black Woodpecker
Latin: Dryocopus martius
Other: Fr: Pic noir • De: Schwarzspecht • Es: Pito negro • It: Picchio nero • Nl: zwarte specht • Sv: Spillkråka • Tr: Kara ağaçkakan • Pl: Dzięcioł czarny • Ru: Желна • Ko: 까막딱따구리 • Ja:クマゲラ • Zh: 黑啄木鳥
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Europe, Asia, from France to Japan
Similar: none

The Black Woodpecker is a striking large forest woodpecker found throughout the northern Palearctic (Europe and Asia). Related to some American woodpeckers, such as the Pileated Woodpecker. Pictured here in the Danube Delta.More photos...

© monacoeye • Mercantour, France, October 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: European Green Woodpecker
Latin: Picus viridis
Other: UK: Green Woodpecker; Fr: Pic vert; De: Grünspecht; Es: pito real; It: Picchio verde; Nl: Groene specht; Sv: Gröngöling; Pt: Pica-pau-verde
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Most of Europe, Pt, Es, Fr, De, It, UK, Be, Nl, Ch, E Europe, around Black Sea
Similar:

Record shot of Green Woodpecker in Mercantour.

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Manyara • Oct 2009

Bird name: Nubian Woodpecker
Latin: Campethera nubica
Other:
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers

The Nubian Woodpecker is found in Central and Eastern Africa. Seen here at Lake Manyara, Kenya.More photos...

© monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Great Spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Dendrocopos major
Other: Fr: Pic épeiche • De: Buntspecht • Es: pico picapinos • It: Picchio rosso maggiore • Nl: grote bonte specht • Sv: Större hackspett • Tr: Göknar ağaçkakanı • Pl: Dzięcioł duży • Ru: Большой пёстрый дятел • Ko: 오색딱따구리 • Ja:アカゲラ • Zh: 大斑啄木鸟
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Europe Asia to Japan, Korea
Similar: Syrian Woodpecker

See Syrian Woodpecker for differences. These are both females from lack of red patch on back of head.More photos...

© monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania, May 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Syrian Woodpecker
Latin: Dendrocopos syriacus
Other: Tr: Alaca ağaçkakan • Ru: Сирийский дятел
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: SE Europe to Iran
Similar: Great Spotted Woodpecker

This Syrian Woodpecker obliged by landing on an electricity pole in front of me as I was waiting for a boat trip.

The Syrian Woodpecker can be differentiated from the more widespread Great Spotted Woodpecker by a broken black line around the neck - on the Great Spotted Woodpecker this line is not interrupted.

The red patch on the back of the head identifies this woodpecker as a male.More photos...

Family: Picidae - Woodpeckers, Piculets - IOC 2.5 2010

Honeyguides (Indicatoridae) and woodpeckers (Picidae) are sister families.

Jynx torquilla - Eurasian Wryneck - Widespread Eurasia
Jynx ruficollis - Red-throated Wryneck - Widespread Africa

Picumnus innominatus - Speckled Piculet - Widespread Asia, also C, E China
Picumnus aurifrons - Bar-breasted Piculet - Amazonia
Picumnus lafresnayi - Lafresnaye's Piculet - W, C Amazonia
Picumnus pumilus - Orinoco Piculet - NW Amazonia
Picumnus exilis - Golden-spangled Piculet - NE, South America, also E Brazil
Picumnus nigropunctatus - Black-dotted Piculet - NE Venezuela
Picumnus sclateri - Ecuadorian Piculet - Ecuador, NW Peru
Picumnus squamulatus - Scaled Piculet - Colombia, Venezuela
Picumnus spilogaster - White-bellied Piculet - N, NE South America
Picumnus minutissimus - Arrowhead Piculet - Guianas
Picumnus pygmaeus - Spotted Piculet - E Brazil
Picumnus steindachneri - Speckle-chested Piculet - NW Peru
Picumnus varzeae - Varzea Piculet - C Amazonia
Picumnus cirratus - White-barred Piculet - NE, SE South America
Picumnus dorbignyanus - Ocellated Piculet - E Peru, Bolivia - NB not dorbygnianus
Picumnus temminckii - Ochre-collared Piculet - SE South America
Picumnus albosquamatus - White-wedged Piculet - C South America
Picumnus fuscus - Rusty-necked Piculet - NE Bolivia, WC Brazil
Picumnus rufiventris - Rufous-breasted Piculet - W Amazonia
Picumnus limae - Ochraceous Piculet - E Brazil
Picumnus fulvescens - Tawny Piculet - E Brazil
Picumnus nebulosus - Mottled Piculet - SE South America
Picumnus castelnau - Plain-breasted Piculet - W Amazonia
Picumnus subtilis - Fine-barred Piculet - E Peru
Picumnus olivaceus - Olivaceous Piculet - Guatemala to NW Peru
Picumnus granadensis - Greyish Piculet - NW Colombia
Picumnus cinnamomeus - Chestnut Piculet - N Colombia, NW Venezuela

Sasia africana - African Piculet - C, WC Africa
Sasia abnormis - Rufous Piculet - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Sasia ochracea - White-browed Piculet - Southeast Asia

Nesoctites micromegas - Antillean Piculet - Hispaniola

Melanerpes candidus - White Woodpecker - C, E, SE South America - from Leuconerpes to Melanerpes
Melanerpes lewis - Lewis's Woodpecker - W North America
Melanerpes herminieri - Guadeloupe Woodpecker - Lesser Antilles
Melanerpes portoricensis - Puerto Rican Woodpecker - Puerto Rico
Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Red-headed Woodpecker - SC, SE Canada to SE USA
Melanerpes formicivorus - Acorn Woodpecker - NW USA to Colombia
Melanerpes cruentatus - Yellow-tufted Woodpecker - Amazonia
Melanerpes flavifrons - Yellow-fronted Woodpecker - SE South America
Melanerpes chrysauchen - Golden-naped Woodpecker - Costa Rica, Panama
Melanerpes pulcher - Beautiful Woodpecker - NC Colombia
Melanerpes pucherani - Black-cheeked Woodpecker - S Mexico to W Ecuador
Melanerpes cactorum - White-fronted Woodpecker - C, SC South America
Melanerpes striatus - Hispaniolan Woodpecker - Hispaniola
Melanerpes radiolatus - Jamaican Woodpecker - Jamaica
Melanerpes chrysogenys - Golden-cheeked Woodpecker - W Mexico
Melanerpes hypopolius - Grey-breasted Woodpecker - SW Mexico
Melanerpes pygmaeus - Yucatan Woodpecker - Yucatan Peninsula
Melanerpes rubricapillus - Red-crowned Woodpecker - Costa Rica to NW Venezuela
Melanerpes uropygialis - Gila Woodpecker - SW USA, Baja California, W Mexico
Melanerpes hoffmannii - Hoffmann's Woodpecker - Honduras to Costa Rica
Melanerpes aurifrons - Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Texas to SC Mexico
Melanerpes santacruzi - Velasquez's Woodpecker - E Mexico S to Nicaragua, islands off Honduras - split from Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus - Red-bellied Woodpecker - E, C, SE USA
Melanerpes superciliaris - West Indian Woodpecker - Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands

Sphyrapicus thyroideus - Williamson's Sapsucker - W North America
Sphyrapicus varius - Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - N North America
Sphyrapicus nuchalis - Red-naped Sapsucker - W North America
Sphyrapicus ruber - Red-breasted Sapsucker - W North America

Xiphidiopicus percussus - Cuban Green Woodpecker - Cuba

Campethera punctuligera - Fine-spotted Woodpecker - C, W Africa
Campethera bennettii - Bennett's Woodpecker - SC, SE Africa
Campethera scriptoricauda - Speckle-throated Woodpecker - E, SE Africa
Campethera nubica - Nubian Woodpecker - E, NE Africa
Campethera abingoni - Golden-tailed Woodpecker - Widespread Africa
Campethera mombassica - Mombasa Woodpecker - E Africa
Campethera notata - Knysna Woodpecker - S South Africa
Campethera cailliautii - Green-backed Woodpecker - WC, C, SE Africa
Campethera maculosa - Little Green Woodpecker - W Africa
Campethera tullbergi - Tullberg's Woodpecker - WC, EC Africa
Campethera nivosa - Buff-spotted Woodpecker - C, W Africa
Campethera caroli - Brown-eared Woodpecker - C, W Africa

Geocolaptes olivaceus - Ground Woodpecker - S Africa

Dendropicos elachus - Little Grey Woodpecker - NC, W Africa
Dendropicos poecilolaemus - Speckle-breasted Woodpecker - C, WC Africa
Dendropicos abyssinicus - Abyssinian Woodpecker - E, NE Africa
Dendropicos fuscescens - Cardinal Woodpecker - Widespread Africa
Dendropicos gabonensis - Gabon Woodpecker - S Nigeria, to Zaire, N Angola & W Uganda
Dendropicos lugubris - Melancholy Woodpecker - Sierra Leone to SW Nigeria
Dendropicos stierlingi - Stierling's Woodpecker - SE Africa
Dendropicos namaquus - Bearded Woodpecker - E, SC, SE Africa
Dendropicos xantholophus - Yellow-crested Woodpecker - C, WC Africa
Dendropicos pyrrhogaster - Fire-bellied Woodpecker - W Africa
Dendropicos elliotii - Elliot's Woodpecker - C, WC Africa
Dendropicos goertae - African Grey Woodpecker - Mauritania & Senegal to W Ethiopia to NW Tanzania, S Gabon, NW Angola & SC Zaire
Dendropicos spodocephalus - Eastern Grey Woodpecker - Highlands of N C Tanzania & C Kenya to E Sudan & C Ethiopia
Dendropicos griseocephalus - Olive Woodpecker - S, SC Africa
Dendropicos obsoletus - Brown-backed Woodpecker - EC, C, W Africa - In Dendropicos not Picoides

Dendrocopos hyperythrus - Rufous-bellied Woodpecker - N India to Southeast Asia, Asia, also E Asia
Dendrocopos temminckii - Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker - Sulawesi
Dendrocopos maculatus - Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker - Philippines
Dendrocopos ramsayi - Sulu Pygmy Woodpecker - Sulu Arch. Asia - split from D. maculatus
Dendrocopos moluccensis - Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Dendrocopos nanus - Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker - India, Sri Lanka
Dendrocopos kizuki - Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker - E Asia
Dendrocopos canicapillus - Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker - E Asia to N India, Sumatra & Borneo
Dendrocopos minor - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia
Dendrocopos macei - Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker - N Pakistan to N Burma
Dendrocopos analis - Spot-breasted Pied Woodpecker - S Burma to Indochina, Andaman Is., Java and Bali - split from D. macei.
Dendrocopos atratus - Stripe-breasted Woodpecker - Southeast Asia
Dendrocopos auriceps - Brown-fronted Woodpecker - NE Afghanistan to E Nepal
Dendrocopos mahrattensis - Yellow-crowned Woodpecker - Widespread Asia
Dendrocopos dorae - Arabian Woodpecker - SW Arabian Peninsula
Dendrocopos cathpharius - Crimson-breasted Woodpecker - WC Nepal to NW Laos & NC China
Dendrocopos darjellensis - Darjeeling Woodpecker - WC Nepal to N Vietnam & SC China
Dendrocopos medius - Middle Spotted Woodpecker - W, SW Eurasia
Dendrocopos leucotos - White-backed Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia
Dendrocopos himalayensis - Himalayan Woodpecker - NE Afghanistan to W Nepal
Dendrocopos assimilis - Sind Woodpecker - SE Iran, Pakistan
Dendrocopos syriacus - Syrian Woodpecker - SE Europe to S Iran
Dendrocopos leucopterus - White-winged Woodpecker - C Eurasia
Dendrocopos major - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia

Picoides scalaris - Ladder-backed Woodpecker - SW USA to NE Nicaragua
Picoides nuttallii - Nuttall's Woodpecker - California
Picoides pubescens - Downy Woodpecker - Widespread North America
Picoides villosus - Hairy Woodpecker - Widespread North America, Middle America
Picoides arizonae - Arizona Woodpecker - SW USA, W, N Mexico
Picoides stricklandi - Strickland's Woodpecker - C Mexico
Picoides borealis - Red-cockaded Woodpecker - SE USA
Picoides albolarvatus - White-headed Woodpecker - SW Canada, W USA
Picoides fumigatus - Smoky-brown Woodpecker - E Mexico to NW Argentina - to Picoides
Picoides tridactylus - Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia
Picoides dorsalis - American Three-toed Woodpecker - N, WC North America
Picoides arcticus - Black-backed Woodpecker - N North America

Veniliornis callonotus - Scarlet-backed Woodpecker - SW Colombia to NW Peru
Veniliornis dignus - Yellow-vented Woodpecker - SW Venezuela to Peru
Veniliornis nigriceps - Bar-bellied Woodpecker - N Colombia to Bolivia
Veniliornis passerinus - Little Woodpecker - Widespread South America
Veniliornis frontalis - Dot-fronted Woodpecker - Bolivia to NW Argentina
Veniliornis spilogaster - White-spotted Woodpecker - SE South America
Veniliornis mixtus - Checkered Woodpecker - E, C, SE South America - to Veniliornis from Picoides
Veniliornis lignarius - Striped Woodpecker - Bolivia, S Chile & Argentina - to Veniliornis from Picoides
Veniliornis sanguineus - Blood-colored Woodpecker - Guianas
Veniliornis kirkii - Red-rumped Woodpecker - Costa Rica to NW South America
Veniliornis affinis - Red-stained Woodpecker - Amazonia, E Brazil
Veniliornis chocoensis - Choco Woodpecker - W Colombia to NW Ecuador
Veniliornis cassini - Golden-collared Woodpecker - NE Amazonia
Veniliornis maculifrons - Yellow-eared Woodpecker - E Brazil

Piculus simplex - Rufous-winged Woodpecker - Honduras to Panama
Piculus callopterus - Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker - Panama
Piculus leucolaemus - White-throated Woodpecker - W Amazonia
Piculus litae - Lita Woodpecker - W Colombia to NW Ecuador
Piculus flavigula - Yellow-throated Woodpecker - Amazonia, SE Brazil
Piculus chrysochloros - Golden-green Woodpecker - Panama to Venezuela, Amazonia, SE Brazil
Piculus aurulentus - Yellow-browed Woodpecker - SE South America

Colaptes rubiginosus - Golden-olive Woodpecker - Mexico to Guyana, NW Peru & NW Argentina - to Colaptes from Piculus
Colaptes auricularis - Grey-crowned Woodpecker - W Mexico - to Colaptes from Piculus
Colaptes rivolii - Crimson-mantled Woodpecker - NW Venezuela to C Bolivia - to Colaptes from Piculus
Colaptes atricollis - Black-necked Woodpecker - Peru - to Colaptes from Chrysoptilus
Colaptes punctigula - Spot-breasted Woodpecker - Panama through N South America, Amazonia - to Colaptes from Chrysoptilus
Colaptes melanochloros - Green-barred Woodpecker - E, C, SE South America - to Colaptes from Chrysoptilus
Colaptes auratus - Northern Flicker - Widespread North America, Middle America
Colaptes chrysoides - Gilded Flicker - SW USA, NW Mexico
Colaptes fernandinae - Fernandina's Flicker - Cuba
Colaptes pitius - Chilean Flicker - Chile, SW Argentina
Colaptes rupicola - Andean Flicker - S Ecuador to NW Argentina
Colaptes campestris - Campo Flicker - E, C, SE South America - incl Field Flicker

Celeus loricatus - Cinnamon Woodpecker - SE Guatemala to SW Ecuador
Celeus undatus - Waved Woodpecker - E Venezuela to NE Brazil
Celeus grammicus - Scaly-breasted Woodpecker - W, NW, C Amazonia - may be conspecific with Waved Woodpecker
Celeus castaneus - Chestnut-colored Woodpecker - SE Mexico to W Panama
Celeus elegans - Chestnut Woodpecker - N, Amazonia
Celeus lugubris - Pale-crested Woodpecker - SC South America
Celeus flavescens - Blond-crested Woodpecker - E, SE South America
Celeus flavus - Cream-colored Woodpecker - Amazonia, SE Brazil
Celeus spectabilis - Rufous-headed Woodpecker - W Amazonia
Celeus obrieni - Kaempfer's Woodpecker - E Brazil - from Piaui Woodpecker to Kaempfer's Woodpecker
Celeus torquatus - Ringed Woodpecker - Amazonia, E Brazil

Dryocopus galeatus - Helmeted Woodpecker - SE South America
Dryocopus schulzi - Black-bodied Woodpecker - SC South America
Dryocopus lineatus - Lineated Woodpecker - Widespread Latin America
Dryocopus pileatus - Pileated Woodpecker - E, NW USA, S Canada
Dryocopus javensis - White-bellied Woodpecker - Widespread Asia
Dryocopus hodgei - Andaman Woodpecker - Andaman Islands
Dryocopus martius - Black Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia

Campephilus pollens - Powerful Woodpecker - NC Colombia to Peru
Campephilus haematogaster - Crimson-bellied Woodpecker - Panama to Peru
Campephilus rubricollis - Red-necked Woodpecker - Amazonia
Campephilus robustus - Robust Woodpecker - SE South America
Campephilus melanoleucos - Crimson-crested Woodpecker - South America, also Panama
Campephilus guatemalensis - Pale-billed Woodpecker - Widespread Middle America
Campephilus gayaquilensis - Guayaquil Woodpecker - SW Colombia to NW Peru
Campephilus leucopogon - Cream-backed Woodpecker - SC South America
Campephilus magellanicus - Magellanic Woodpecker - Chile, SW Argentina
Campephilus principalis - Ivory-billed Woodpecker - SE USA, Cuba
Campephilus imperialis - Imperial Woodpecker - NC, C Mexico

Chrysophlegma - Segregate Banded Woodpecker, Checker-throated Woodpecker, & Greater Yellownape from Picus to Chrysophlegma
Chrysophlegma miniaceus - Banded Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Chrysophlegma puniceus - Crimson-winged Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Chrysophlegma flavinucha - Greater Yellownape - Widespread Asia

Picus chlorolophus - Lesser Yellownape - Widespread Asia
Picus mentalis - Checker-throated Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Picus viridanus - Streak-breasted Woodpecker - Burma to Malay Peninsula
Picus vittatus - Laced Woodpecker - Southeast Asia to Java
Picus xanthopygaeus - Streak-throated Woodpecker - Widespread Asia
Picus squamatus - Scaly-bellied Woodpecker - SC Asia
Picus awokera - Japanese Green Woodpecker - Japan
Picus viridis - European Green Woodpecker - W Eurasia
Picus vaillantii - Levaillant's Woodpecker - Morocco, Tunisia
Picus rabieri - Red-collared Woodpecker - Laos, Vietnam
Picus erythropygius - Black-headed Woodpecker - Southeast Asia
Picus canus - Grey-headed Woodpecker - Widespread Eurasia, Asia

Dinopium rafflesii - Olive-backed Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Dinopium shorii - Himalayan Goldenback - N India to Burma
Dinopium javanense - Common Goldenback - Widespread Asia
Dinopium benghalense - Lesser Goldenback - Pakistan to Burma & Sri Lanka

Chrysocolaptes lucidus - Greater Goldenback - Widespread Asia
Chrysocolaptes stricklandi - Crimson-backed Goldenback - Sri Lanka - split from C. lucidus.
Chrysocolaptes festivus - White-naped Woodpecker - India, Sri Lanka

Gecinulus grantia - Pale-headed Woodpecker - Southeast Asia, E China
Gecinulus viridis - Bamboo Woodpecker - Burma to Malay Peninsula

Sapheopipo noguchii - Okinawa Woodpecker - Okinawa

Blythipicus rubiginosus - Maroon Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Blythipicus pyrrhotis - Bay Woodpecker - Nepal to S Vietnam & SE China

Reinwardtipicus validus - Orange-backed Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas

Micropternus brachyurus - Rufous Woodpecker - Widespread Asia - from Celeus to Micropternus

Meiglyptes tristis - Buff-rumped Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Meiglyptes jugularis - Black-and-buff Woodpecker - Southeast Asia
Meiglyptes tukki - Buff-necked Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Hemicircus concretus - Grey-and-buff Woodpecker - Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Hemicircus canente - Heart-spotted Woodpecker - Widespread Asia

Mulleripicus fulvus - Ashy Woodpecker - Sulawesi
Mulleripicus funebris - Sooty Woodpecker - Philippines
Mulleripicus pulverulentus - Great Slaty Woodpecker - Widespread Asia