Acorn Woodpecker

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

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

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 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.