Woodpecker
Encyclopedia
Woodpeckers are near passerine
bird
s of the order Piciformes
. They are one subfamily in the family
Picidae
, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species.
Woodpeckers gained their English name because of the habit of some species of tapping and pecking noisily on tree
trunks with their beaks and heads. This is both a means of communication to signal possession of territory to their rivals, and a method of locating and accessing insect larvae found under the bark or in long winding tunnels in the tree or upright log.
s in the order Piciformes have zygodactyl
feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. These feet, though adapted for clinging to a vertical surface, can be used for grasping or perching. Several species have only three toes. The woodpecker's long tongue
, in many cases as long as the woodpecker itself, can be darted forward to capture insects. The tongue is not attached to the woodpecker's head in the same way as it is in most birds, but instead it curls back up around its skull, which allows it to be so long.
The woodpecker first locates a tunnel by tapping on the trunk with its head. Once a tunnel is found, the woodpecker chisel
s out wood until it makes an opening into the tunnel. Then it worms its tongue
into the tunnel to try to locate the grub. The tongue of the woodpecker is long and ends in a barb. With its tongue the woodpecker skewers the grub and draws it out of the trunk.
Woodpeckers also use their beaks to create larger holes for their nests which are 15–45 cm (6–18 inches) below the opening. These nests are lined only with wood chips and hold 2–8 white eggs. Because the nests are out of sight, they are not visible to predators and eggs do not need to be camouflaged. Cavities created by woodpeckers are also reused as nests by other birds, such as grackle
s, starling
s, some duck
s and owl
s, and mammals, such as tree squirrel
s.
Several adaptations combine to protect the woodpecker's brain from the substantial pounding that the pecking behaviour causes: it has a relatively thick skull with relatively spongy bone to cushion the brain; there is very little cerebrospinal fluid
in its small subarachnoid space
; the bird contracts mandibular
muscles just before impact, thus transmitting the impact past the brain and allowing its whole body to help absorb the shock; its relatively small brain is less prone to concussion than other animals'.
Some species have modified joints between bones in the skull and upper jaw, as well as muscles which contract to absorb the shock of the hammering. Strong neck and tail-feather muscles, and a chisel-like bill are other hammering adaptations which are seen in most species. Other species of woodpecker, such as the Flicker, uses its long tongue primarily to grab prey from the ground or from under loose bark. It has few shock-absorbing adaptations, and prefers to feed on the ground or to chip away at rotting wood and bark, habits observed in birds outside of the woodpecker family. A "continuum" in skull structures, from little- to highly-specialized for pounding is seen in different genera (groups of related species) of woodpeckers alive today. In his classic "Birds of America," John James Audubon
describes the slight gradations in hyoid horn length found in different species of living woodpeckers. The slack of tongue is kept under the loose skin behind its neck. The tiny bones divide into essentially two tongues, coming back together before entering the beak.
in details of plumage and behavior, 5 subfamilies were distinguished. However, it has turned out that similar plumage patterns and modes of life are not reliable to determine higher phylogenetic relationships in woodpeckers, and thus only 3 subfamilies should be accepted.
For example, the genera Dryocopus
(Eurasia
and Americas
) and Campephilus
(Americas) of large woodpeckers were believed to form a distinct group. However, they are quite unrelated and instead close to a Southeast Asia
n genus, Mulleripicus
and Chrysocolaptes
, respectively. In addition, the genus
allocation of many species, e.g. the Rufous Woodpecker
, has turned out to be in error, and some taxa with unclear relationships could be placed into the phylogeny.
.
Tribe Dendropicini
Tribe Malarpicini
Tribe Picini
Tribe Megapicini
Near passerine
Near passerine or higher land-bird assemblage are terms often given to arboreal birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines due to ecological similarities; the group corresponds to some extent with the Anomalogonatae of Garrod All near passerines are land birds...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s of the order Piciformes
Piciformes
Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...
. They are one subfamily in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Picidae
Picidae
The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions...
, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species.
Woodpeckers gained their English name because of the habit of some species of tapping and pecking noisily on tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
trunks with their beaks and heads. This is both a means of communication to signal possession of territory to their rivals, and a method of locating and accessing insect larvae found under the bark or in long winding tunnels in the tree or upright log.
Physiology and behaviour
Some woodpeckers and wryneckWryneck
The wrynecks are a small but distinctive group of small Old World woodpeckers.Like the true woodpeckers, wrynecks have large heads, long tongues which they use to extract their insect prey and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards...
s in the order Piciformes have zygodactyl
Dactyly
In biology, dactyly is the arrangement of digits on the hands, feet, or sometimes wings of a tetrapod animal. It comes from the Greek word δακτυλος = "finger".Sometimes the ending "-dactylia" is used...
feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. These feet, though adapted for clinging to a vertical surface, can be used for grasping or perching. Several species have only three toes. The woodpecker's long tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
, in many cases as long as the woodpecker itself, can be darted forward to capture insects. The tongue is not attached to the woodpecker's head in the same way as it is in most birds, but instead it curls back up around its skull, which allows it to be so long.
The woodpecker first locates a tunnel by tapping on the trunk with its head. Once a tunnel is found, the woodpecker chisel
Chisel
A chisel is a tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge of blade on its end, for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal. The handle and blade of some types of chisel are made of metal or wood with a sharp edge in it.In use, the chisel is forced into the material...
s out wood until it makes an opening into the tunnel. Then it worms its tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
into the tunnel to try to locate the grub. The tongue of the woodpecker is long and ends in a barb. With its tongue the woodpecker skewers the grub and draws it out of the trunk.
Woodpeckers also use their beaks to create larger holes for their nests which are 15–45 cm (6–18 inches) below the opening. These nests are lined only with wood chips and hold 2–8 white eggs. Because the nests are out of sight, they are not visible to predators and eggs do not need to be camouflaged. Cavities created by woodpeckers are also reused as nests by other birds, such as grackle
Grackle
Grackle can refer to any of eleven black passerine birds native to North and South America. All are members of the Icterid family but belong to multiple genera.* Genus Quiscalus** Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major...
s, starling
Starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...
s, some duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s and owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s, and mammals, such as tree squirrel
Tree squirrel
Tree squirrels include over a hundred species that are found on all continents except Antarctica, and are the members of the squirrel family most commonly referred to as "squirrels"...
s.
Several adaptations combine to protect the woodpecker's brain from the substantial pounding that the pecking behaviour causes: it has a relatively thick skull with relatively spongy bone to cushion the brain; there is very little cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
in its small subarachnoid space
Subarachnoid space
In the central nervous system, the subarachnoid cavity is the interval between the arachnoid membrane and pia mater....
; the bird contracts mandibular
Mandibular
Mandibular may refer to:* Mandible, the lower jaw bone* Mandibular canal* Mandibular nerve...
muscles just before impact, thus transmitting the impact past the brain and allowing its whole body to help absorb the shock; its relatively small brain is less prone to concussion than other animals'.
Some species have modified joints between bones in the skull and upper jaw, as well as muscles which contract to absorb the shock of the hammering. Strong neck and tail-feather muscles, and a chisel-like bill are other hammering adaptations which are seen in most species. Other species of woodpecker, such as the Flicker, uses its long tongue primarily to grab prey from the ground or from under loose bark. It has few shock-absorbing adaptations, and prefers to feed on the ground or to chip away at rotting wood and bark, habits observed in birds outside of the woodpecker family. A "continuum" in skull structures, from little- to highly-specialized for pounding is seen in different genera (groups of related species) of woodpeckers alive today. In his classic "Birds of America," John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
describes the slight gradations in hyoid horn length found in different species of living woodpeckers. The slack of tongue is kept under the loose skin behind its neck. The tiny bones divide into essentially two tongues, coming back together before entering the beak.
Systematics
The systematics of woodpeckers is quite convoluted. Based on an assumption of unrealistically low convergenceConvergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
in details of plumage and behavior, 5 subfamilies were distinguished. However, it has turned out that similar plumage patterns and modes of life are not reliable to determine higher phylogenetic relationships in woodpeckers, and thus only 3 subfamilies should be accepted.
For example, the genera Dryocopus
Dryocopus
Dryocopus is a genus of large powerful woodpeckers, typically 35–45 cm in length. It has representatives in North and South America, Europe, and Asia; some South American species are endangered...
(Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
) and Campephilus
Campephilus
Campephilus is a genus of large American woodpeckers in the family Picidae.This genus was created by George Robert Gray, who suggested taking Campephilus principalis as the type for the genus. The name Campephilus means "lover of grubs" - an allusion to the diet of these birds, many of which feed...
(Americas) of large woodpeckers were believed to form a distinct group. However, they are quite unrelated and instead close to a Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n genus, Mulleripicus
Mulleripicus
Mulleripicus is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following three species:* Ashy Woodpecker * Sooty Woodpecker * Great Slaty Woodpecker...
and Chrysocolaptes
Chrysocolaptes
Chrysocolaptes is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* White-naped Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus* Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus...
, respectively. In addition, the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
allocation of many species, e.g. the Rufous Woodpecker
Rufous Woodpecker
The Rufous Woodpecker, is a brown woodpecker found in South Asia. Its genus, Micropternus, is monotypic.It builds its nest within the nest of acrobat ants...
, has turned out to be in error, and some taxa with unclear relationships could be placed into the phylogeny.
Unassigned fossil forms
- Genus Palaeonerpes (Ogalalla Early Pliocene of Hitchcock County, USA) - possibly dendropicine
- Genus Pliopicus (Early Pliocene of Kansas, USA) - possibly dendropicine
- cf. Colaptes DMNH 1262 (Early Pliocene of Ainsworth, USA) - possibly malarpicine
Species in taxonomic order
This is a list of woodpecker species, presented in taxonomic orderTaxonomic order
Taxonomic sequence is a sequence followed in listing of taxa which aids ease of use and roughly reflects the evolutionary relationships among the taxa...
.
Tribe Dendropicini
- Genus MelanerpesMelanerpesMelanerpes is a genus of woodpeckers of the family Picidae found in the New World. The name comes from Latin, and means "black creeper".- Species of Melanerpes :* White Woodpecker, Melanerpes candidus* Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis...
- White WoodpeckerWhite WoodpeckerThe White Woodpecker, Melanerpes candidus, is a species of woodpecker found in South America. This woodpecker is a native of the grasslands of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina....
, Melanerpes candidus - Lewis' Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis
- Guadeloupe WoodpeckerGuadeloupe WoodpeckerThe Guadeloupe Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to Guadeloupe.-Habitat:...
, Melanerpes herminieri - Puerto Rican WoodpeckerPuerto Rican WoodpeckerThe Puerto Rican Woodpecker is the only woodpecker endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico and is one of the five species of the Melanerpes genus that occur in the Antilles. Furthermore, it is the only resident species of the Picidae family in Puerto Rico...
, Melanerpes portoricensis - Red-headed WoodpeckerRed-headed WoodpeckerThe Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, is a small or medium-sized woodpecker from temperate North America. Their breeding habitat is open country across southern Canada and the eastern-central United States.-Taxonomy:...
, Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Acorn WoodpeckerAcorn WoodpeckerThe Acorn woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, 21 cm long with an average weight of 85 g.-Description:...
, Melanerpes formicivorus - Golden-naped WoodpeckerGolden-naped WoodpeckerThe Golden-naped Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Melanerpes chrysauchen - Black-cheeked WoodpeckerBlack-cheeked WoodpeckerThe Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes pucherani, is a resident breeding bird from southeastern Mexico south to western Ecuador.This woodpecker occurs in the higher levels of wet forests, semi-open woodland and old second growth. It nests in an unlined hole 6–30 m high in a dead tree. The clutch...
, Melanerpes pucherani - Yellow-tufted WoodpeckerYellow-tufted WoodpeckerThe Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Melanerpes cruentatus, is a species of woodpecker. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Melanerpes cruentatus - Yellow-fronted WoodpeckerYellow-fronted WoodpeckerThe Yellow-fronted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay....
, Melanerpes flavifrons - White-fronted WoodpeckerWhite-fronted WoodpeckerThe White-fronted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay....
, Melanerpes cactorum - Hispaniolan WoodpeckerHispaniolan WoodpeckerThe Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Melanerpes striatus, is a medium sized woodpecker endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.Their back is covered in yellow and black stripes. Males have a dark red stripe from their forehead to their neck while females the red stripe extends from the nape to the...
, Melanerpes striatus - Jamaican WoodpeckerJamaican WoodpeckerThe Jamaican Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to Jamaica.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Melanerpes radiolatus - Golden-cheeked WoodpeckerGolden-cheeked WoodpeckerThe Golden-cheeked Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to Mexico, in the western, and southwestern coastal strip on the Pacific Ocean, and the western bordering regions of mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are subtropical or...
, Melanerpes chrysogenys - Gray-breasted Woodpecker, Melanerpes hypopolius
- Yucatan WoodpeckerYucatan WoodpeckerThe Yucatan Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico, and ranges over the entire Yucatán Peninsula....
, Melanerpes pygmaeus - Red-crowned WoodpeckerRed-crowned WoodpeckerThe Red-crowned Woodpecker, Melanerpes rubricapillus, is a resident breeding bird from southwestern Costa Rica south to Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas and Tobago....
, Melanerpes rubricapillus - Hoffmann's WoodpeckerHoffmann's WoodpeckerHoffmann's Woodpecker, Melanerpes hoffmannii, is a resident breeding bird from southern Honduras south to Costa Rica. It is a common species on the Pacific slopes, locally as high as 2150 m. It is expanding on the Caribbean slope, aided by deforestation...
, Melanerpes hoffmannii - Gila WoodpeckerGila WoodpeckerThe Gila Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker of the desert regions of the southwestern United States. They range through southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.-Habitat:...
, Melanerpes uropygialis - Golden-fronted WoodpeckerGolden-fronted WoodpeckerThe Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons, is a North American woodpecker. Its preferred habitat is mesquite and riparian woodlands. It is distributed from Texas and Oklahoma in the United States through Mexico to Honduras and northern Nicaragua...
, Melanerpes aurifrons - Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied WoodpeckerThe Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus, is a medium-sized woodpecker of the Picidae family. It breeds in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas...
, Melanerpes carolinus - West Indian WoodpeckerWest Indian WoodpeckerThe West Indian Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Cuba....
, Melanerpes superciliaris
- White Woodpecker
- Genus Sphyrapicus
- Williamson's SapsuckerWilliamson's SapsuckerWilliamson's Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus, is a medium-sized woodpecker belonging to the genus Sphyrapicus .-Habitat and range:...
, Sphyrapicus thyroideus - Yellow-bellied SapsuckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerThe Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.-Taxonomy:...
, Sphyrapicus varius - Red-naped SapsuckerRed-naped SapsuckerThe Red-naped Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker.-Habitat:Their breeding habitat is mixed forests in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin areas of North America. They nest in a cavity in a dead tree. Other species which nest in tree cavities reuse nests formerly used by these...
, Sphyrapicus nuchalis - Red-breasted SapsuckerRed-breasted SapsuckerThe Red-breasted Sapsucker , is a medium-sized woodpecker of the forests of the west coast of North America.-Description:...
, Sphyrapicus ruber
- Williamson's Sapsucker
- Genus Xiphidiopicus
- Cuban Woodpecker, Xiphidiopicus percussus (Placement in Dendropicini tentative)
- Genus DendropicosDendropicosDendropicos is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Little Grey Woodpecker * Speckle-breasted Woodpecker...
- Little Grey WoodpeckerLittle Grey WoodpeckerThe Little Grey Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.-References:...
, Dendropicos elachus - Speckle-breasted WoodpeckerSpeckle-breasted WoodpeckerThe Speckle-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda....
, Dendropicos poecilolaemus - Abyssinian WoodpeckerAbyssinian WoodpeckerThe Abyssinian Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Eritrea and Ethiopia.- References :* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27 July 2007....
, Dendropicos abyssinicus - Cardinal WoodpeckerCardinal WoodpeckerThe Cardinal Woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens, is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species found in a wide range of habitats from dense forest to thornbush...
, Dendropicos fuscescens - Gabon WoodpeckerGabon WoodpeckerThe Gabon Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, and...
, Dendropicos gabonensis - Melancholy WoodpeckerMelancholy WoodpeckerThe Melancholy Woodpecker, Dendropicos lugubris, is a species of woodpecker. It is found in Africa from Sierra Leone east to Nigeria. It is often considered to be a subspecies of Gabon Woodpecker, Dendropicos gabonensis, but here it is treated as a separate species following the Handbook of the...
, Dendropicos lugubris - Stierling's WoodpeckerStierling's WoodpeckerThe Stierling's Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests in the Eastern Miombo woodlands ecoregion....
, Dendropicos stierlingi - Bearded WoodpeckerBearded WoodpeckerThe Bearded Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
, Dendropicos namaquus - Fire-bellied WoodpeckerFire-bellied WoodpeckerThe Fire-bellied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.-References:...
, Dendropicos pyrrhogaster - Golden-crowned WoodpeckerGolden-crowned WoodpeckerThe Yellow-crested Woodpecker , also known as the Golden-crowned Woodpecker, is a species of bird in the Picidae family....
, Dendropicos xantholophus - Elliot's WoodpeckerElliot's WoodpeckerElliot's Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on...
, Dendropicos elliotii - Grey WoodpeckerGrey WoodpeckerThe Grey Woodpecker, Mesopicos goertae, is a widespread and frequently common resident breeder in much of Sub-Saharan and equatorial Africa...
, Dendropicos goertae - African Grey-headed Woodpecker, Dendropicos spodocephalus
- Olive WoodpeckerOlive WoodpeckerThe Olive Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27...
, Dendropicos griseocephalus - Brown-backed WoodpeckerBrown-backed WoodpeckerThe Brown-backed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,...
, Dendropicos obsoletus
- Little Grey Woodpecker
- Genus DendrocoposDendrocoposDendrocopos is a widespread genus of woodpeckers from Asia and Europe and Northern Africa. They range from the Philippines to the British Isles.-Species:* Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Dendrocopos temminckii...
- Sulawesi WoodpeckerSulawesi WoodpeckerThe Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker , also known as the Sulawesi Woodpecker, is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist mountains.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Dendrocopos temminckii - Philippine WoodpeckerPhilippine WoodpeckerThe Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker , also known as the Philippine Woodpecker, is a species of bird in the woodpecker family . Its local name in Kapampangan is Anluage.-Taxonomy:...
, Dendrocopos maculatus - Brown-capped WoodpeckerBrown-capped WoodpeckerThe Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker found in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.-Description:A small brown and white woodpecker with distinctive pink-rimmed white irises. Barred brown and white above, lightly streaked dirty white below. Tail spotted white...
, Dendrocopos nanus - Sunda WoodpeckerSunda WoodpeckerThe Sunda Woodpecker , also known as the Sunda Woodpecker, is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore....
, Dendrocopos moluccensis - Grey-capped WoodpeckerGrey-capped WoodpeckerThe Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker is an Asian bird species of in the woodpecker family .This is a small, dark woodpecker with dark irides. Barred black and white above, it usually has unbarred central tail feathers. Its dark buff underside has prominent dark streaking...
, Dendrocopos canicapillus - Pygmy WoodpeckerPygmy WoodpeckerThe Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker found in Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan....
, Dendrocopos kizuki - Brown-fronted WoodpeckerBrown-fronted WoodpeckerThe Brown-fronted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Dendrocopos auriceps - Fulvous-breasted WoodpeckerFulvous-breasted WoodpeckerThe Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.-Description:...
, Dendrocopos macei - Stripe-breasted WoodpeckerStripe-breasted WoodpeckerThe Stripe-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Dendrocopos atratus - Yellow-crowned WoodpeckerYellow-crowned WoodpeckerThe Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis or Mahratta woodpecker is a species of small pied woodpecker found in South Asia.-Description:...
, Dendrocopos mahrattensis - Arabian WoodpeckerArabian WoodpeckerThe Arabian Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker found in the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, in areas of montane forest....
, Dendrocopos dorae - Rufous-bellied WoodpeckerRufous-bellied WoodpeckerThe Rufous-bellied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, North Korea, South Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam...
, Dendrocopos hyperythrus - Darjeeling WoodpeckerDarjeeling WoodpeckerThe Darjeeling Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-Description:A medium-sized pied...
, Dendrocopos darjellensis - Crimson-breasted WoodpeckerCrimson-breasted WoodpeckerThe Crimson-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Dendrocopos cathpharius - Middle Spotted WoodpeckerMiddle Spotted WoodpeckerThe Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a European woodpecker belonging to the genus Dendrocopos.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is 20–22 cm long and has plumage similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker. As with that species the upperparts are predominantly black with white oval wing patches and white...
, Dendrocopos medius - White-backed WoodpeckerWhite-backed WoodpeckerThe White-backed Woodpecker is a Eurasian woodpecker belonging to the genus Dendrocopos.It is the largest of the spotted woodpeckers in the western Palearctic, 24–26 cm long with wing-span 38–40 cm and has plumage similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, but with white bars across the...
, Dendrocopos leucotos - Great Spotted WoodpeckerGreat Spotted WoodpeckerThe Great Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major, is a bird species of the woodpecker family . It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range...
, Dendrocopos major - Syrian WoodpeckerSyrian WoodpeckerThe Syrian Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family, the Picidae.-Distribution and habitat:The woodpecker is a resident breeding bird from southeastern Europe east to Iran. Its range has expanded further northwest into Europe in recent years...
, Dendrocopos syriacus - White-winged WoodpeckerWhite-winged WoodpeckerThe White-winged Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and possibly Iran ....
, Dendrocopos leucopterus - Sind WoodpeckerSind WoodpeckerThe Sind Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in India, Iran, and Pakistan.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Dendrocopos assimilis - Himalayan WoodpeckerHimalayan WoodpeckerThe Himalayan Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.-Description:...
, Dendrocopos himalayensis
- Sulawesi Woodpecker
- Genus PicoidesPicoidesPicoides is a genus of woodpeckers found primarily in North America. The plumage in most species is predominantly black and white, brown and white in some southern species, with the male often having a red badge. Their bills are straight and chisel-shaped...
- this genus is in need of revision (Moore et al., 2006). See the genus article for more.- Small group
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerLesser Spotted WoodpeckerThe Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is assigned to the genus Dendrocopos ....
, Picoides minor - previously Dendrocopos - Downy WoodpeckerDowny WoodpeckerThe Downy Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker, the smallest in North America.- Description :Adult Downy Woodpeckers are mainly black on the upperparts and wings, with a white back, throat and belly and white spotting on the wings. There is a white bar above the eye and one below. They have a...
, Picoides pubescens - Nuttall's WoodpeckerNuttall's WoodpeckerNuttall's Woodpecker, Picoides nuttallii, is a species of woodpecker named after naturalist Thomas Nuttall in 1843. They are found in oak woodlands of California and are similar to the Ladder-backed Woodpecker in terms of genetics and in appearance. -Description:Nuttall’s Woodpecker has black...
, Picoides nuttallii - Ladder-backed WoodpeckerLadder-backed WoodpeckerThe Ladder-backed Woodpecker is a North American woodpecker.-Range and habitat:The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is fairly common in dry brushy areas and thickets and has a rather large range...
, Picoides scalaris - Large group
- Red-cockaded WoodpeckerRed-cockaded WoodpeckerThe Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in southeastern North America.- Description :About the size of the Northern Cardinal, it is approximately 8.5 in. long, with a wingspan of about 14 in. and a weight of about 1.5 ounces...
, Picoides borealis - Smoky-brown WoodpeckerSmoky-brown WoodpeckerThe Smoky-brown Woodpecker or Brown Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are subtropical or...
, Picoides fumigatus - Hairy WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerThe Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, averaging approximately 250 mm in length with a 380 mm wingspan...
, Picoides villosus - White-headed WoodpeckerWhite-headed WoodpeckerThe White-headed Woodpecker is a non-migratory woodpecker that resides in pine forests of the mountains of western North America. It has a black body and white head. It has white primary feathers that form a crescent in flight...
, Picoides albolarvatus - Strickland's WoodpeckerStrickland's WoodpeckerThe Strickland's Woodpecker is a medium-sized species of woodpecker endemic to Mexico. The Arizona Woodpecker The Strickland's Woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi) is a medium-sized species of woodpecker endemic to Mexico. The Arizona Woodpecker The Strickland's Woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi) is...
, Picoides stricklandi - Arizona WoodpeckerArizona WoodpeckerThe Arizona Woodpecker is a woodpecker native to southern Arizona and New Mexico and the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico...
, Picoides arizonae - Three-toed group (Picoides sensu stricto)
- Eurasian Three-toed WoodpeckerEurasian Three-toed WoodpeckerThe Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus, is a medium-sized woodpecker.The adult is 21.5-24 cm in length. It is black on the head, wings and rump, and white from the throat to the belly; the flanks are white with black bars. The back is white with black bars, and the tail is black with the...
, Picoides tridactylus - American Three-toed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerThe American Three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis is a medium-sized woodpecker .This woodpecker has a length of 21 cm and a wingspan of 38 cm and closely resembles the Black-backed Woodpecker, which is also three-toed. Until recently, it was considered to be the same species as the Eurasian...
, Picoides dorsalis - Black-backed WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerThe Black-backed Woodpecker also known as the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker inhabiting the forests of North America. It is a medium sized woodpecker ....
, Picoides arcticus
- Genus VeniliornisVeniliornisVeniliornis is a genus of bird in the Picidae family. The Smoky-brown Woodpecker, previously V. fumigatus, is now provisionally in the paraphyletic Picoides, while two other species have been moved from there to the present genus....
- Red-rumped WoodpeckerRed-rumped WoodpeckerThe Red-rumped Woodpecker, Veniliornis kirkii, is a resident breeding bird from Costa Rica south and east to Ecuador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago....
, Veniliornis kirkii - Golden-collared WoodpeckerGolden-collared WoodpeckerThe Golden-collared Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Veniliornis cassini - Choco WoodpeckerChocó WoodpeckerThe Chocó Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Veniliornis chocoensis - Yellow-eared WoodpeckerYellow-eared WoodpeckerThe Yellow-eared Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to humid Atlantic forest in eastern Brazil. Its common name refers to the yellow nape of both sexes - a feature not shared by any other Veniliornis in its range.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Veniliornis maculifrons - Red-stained WoodpeckerRed-stained WoodpeckerThe Red-stained Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Veniliornis affinis - Bar-bellied WoodpeckerBar-bellied WoodpeckerThe Bar-bellied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Veniliornis nigriceps - Scarlet-backed WoodpeckerScarlet-backed WoodpeckerThe Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru....
, Veniliornis callonotus - Yellow-vented WoodpeckerYellow-vented WoodpeckerThe Yellow-vented Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:...
, Veniliornis dignus - Little WoodpeckerLittle WoodpeckerThe Little Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks. It is found in a wide range of wooded habitats in a large part of South America east of the Andes, and generally common...
, Veniliornis passerinus - Dot-fronted WoodpeckerDot-fronted WoodpeckerThe Dot-fronted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Veniliornis frontalis - Blood-colored Woodpecker, Veniliornis sanguineus
- White-spotted WoodpeckerWhite-spotted WoodpeckerThe White-spotted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay....
, Veniliornis spilogaster - Striped WoodpeckerStriped WoodpeckerThe Striped Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in southwestern South America. It occurs northwest- and southwestwards of the range of its sister taxon, the Checkered Woodpecker, in the Cordillera Patagonica and its foothills, and in another population in the Andes of Bolivia and the adjacent...
, Veniliornis lignarius - Checkered WoodpeckerCheckered WoodpeckerThe Checkered Woodpecker, Veniliornis mixtus, is a woodpecker found in eastern South America.This bird is about 5½ inches long...
, Veniliornis mixtus
- Red-rumped Woodpecker
Tribe Malarpicini
- Genus CampetheraCampetheraCampethera is a genus of bird in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Fine-spotted Woodpecker * Bennett's Woodpecker * Speckle-throated Woodpecker...
- Fine-spotted WoodpeckerFine-spotted WoodpeckerThe Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera, is a bird. It is a widespread and frequently common resident breeder in much of west and central tropical Africa.It is a species associated with open forest and bush...
, Campethera punctuligera - Nubian WoodpeckerNubian WoodpeckerThe Nubian Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is distributed widely in Central and Eastern Africa, from Chad in west to Somalia in east and Tanzania in south.-References:...
, Campethera nubica - Bennett's WoodpeckerBennett's WoodpeckerThe Bennett's Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded...
, Campethera bennettii - Reichenow's WoodpeckerReichenow's WoodpeckerThe Speckle-throated Woodpecker , also known as Reichenow's Woodpecker, is an East African woodpecker often considered a subspecies of Bennett's Woodpecker.-Description:...
, Campethera scriptoricauda - Golden-tailed WoodpeckerGolden-tailed WoodpeckerThe Golden-tailed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Canada, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali,...
, Campethera abingoni - Mombasa WoodpeckerMombasa WoodpeckerThe Mombasa Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27 July 2007....
, Campethera mombassica - Knysna WoodpeckerKnysna WoodpeckerThe Knysna Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland....
, Campethera notata - Little Green WoodpeckerLittle Green WoodpeckerThe Little Green Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.-References:...
, Campethera maculosa - Green-backed WoodpeckerGreen-backed WoodpeckerThe Green-backed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan,...
, Campethera cailliautii - Tullberg's WoodpeckerTullberg's WoodpeckerTullberg's Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:...
, Campethera tullbergi - Buff-spotted WoodpeckerBuff-spotted WoodpeckerThe Buff-spotted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania,...
, Campethera nivosa - Brown-eared WoodpeckerBrown-eared WoodpeckerThe Brown-eared Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania,...
, Campethera caroli
- Fine-spotted Woodpecker
- Genus Geocolaptes
- Ground WoodpeckerGround WoodpeckerThe Ground Woodpecker is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world . It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa...
, Geocolaptes olivaceus
- Ground Woodpecker
- Genus DinopiumDinopiumDinopium is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Olive-backed Woodpecker, Dinopium rafflesii* Himalayan Flameback, Dinopium shorii* Common Flameback, Dinopium javanense...
- Olive-backed WoodpeckerOlive-backed WoodpeckerThe Olive-backed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Dinopium rafflesii - Himalayan FlamebackHimalayan FlamebackThe Himalayan Flameback , also known as the Himalayan Goldenback, is a species of bird in the Picidae family.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Dinopium shorii - Common FlamebackCommon FlamebackThe Common Flameback or Common Goldenback is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.-Description and ecology:A medium-sized, golden-backed woodpecker...
, Dinopium javanense - Black-rumped FlamebackBlack-rumped FlamebackThe Black-rumped Flameback , also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Lesser Goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in South Asia. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight...
, Dinopium benghalense
- Olive-backed Woodpecker
- Genus MeiglyptesMeiglyptesMeiglyptes is a genus of bird in the Picidae family.It contains the following 3 species:* Buff-rumped Woodpecker * Black-and-buff Woodpecker * Buff-necked Woodpecker...
- Buff-rumped WoodpeckerBuff-rumped WoodpeckerThe Buff-rumped Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Meiglyptes tristis- Javan Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Meiglyptes tristis tristis - extinct (c.1920)
- Black-and-buff WoodpeckerBlack-and-buff WoodpeckerThe Black-and-buff Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Meiglyptes jugularis - Buff-necked WoodpeckerBuff-necked WoodpeckerThe Buff-necked Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Meiglyptes tukki
- Buff-rumped Woodpecker
- Genus HemicircusHemicircusHemicircus is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following two species:* Grey-and-buff Woodpecker * Heart-spotted Woodpecker...
(Placement in Malarpicini tentative)- Grey-and-buff WoodpeckerGrey-and-buff WoodpeckerThe Grey-and-buff Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Hemicircus concretus - Heart-spotted WoodpeckerHeart-spotted WoodpeckerThe Heart-spotted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family. They have a contrasting black and white pattern, a distinctively stubby body with a large wedge-shaped head making them easy to identify while their frequent calling make them easy to detect as they forage for...
, Hemicircus canente
- Grey-and-buff Woodpecker
- Genus Micropternus (formerly in Celeus)
- Rufous WoodpeckerRufous WoodpeckerThe Rufous Woodpecker, is a brown woodpecker found in South Asia. Its genus, Micropternus, is monotypic.It builds its nest within the nest of acrobat ants...
, Micropternus brachyurus
- Rufous Woodpecker
Tribe Picini
- Genus PicusPicus (biology)Picus is a genus of birds in the woodpecker family. It has representatives in Europe, Asia and North Africa.These are large woodpeckers, typically with green upperparts...
- Banded WoodpeckerBanded WoodpeckerThe Banded Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Picus mineaceus - Lesser YellownapeLesser YellownapeThe Lesser Yellownape, Picus chlorolophus, is a type of woodpecker which is a widespread and often common breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to south China and Sumatra....
, Picus chlorolophus - Crimson-winged WoodpeckerCrimson-winged WoodpeckerThe Crimson-winged Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Picus puniceus - Greater YellownapeGreater YellownapeThe Greater Yellownape is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam...
, Picus flavinucha - Checker-throated WoodpeckerChecker-throated WoodpeckerThe Checker-throated Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Picus mentalis - Streak-breasted WoodpeckerStreak-breasted WoodpeckerThe Streak-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and perhaps Bangladesh. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Picus viridanus - Laced WoodpeckerLaced WoodpeckerThe Laced Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and perhaps Bangladesh....
, Picus vittatus - Streak-throated WoodpeckerStreak-throated WoodpeckerThe Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus is a species of woodpecker found in the Indian Subcontinent.-Description:A medium-sized, green woodpecker with streaked throat and scaly whitish underparts. Green above with yellowish rump, white supercilia and white and black moustache. Crown red...
, Picus xanthopygaeus - Scaly-bellied WoodpeckerScaly-bellied WoodpeckerThe Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Afghanistan, Iran, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan.-Habitat:...
, Picus squamatus - Japanese Green Woodpecker, Picus awokera
- European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
- Levaillant's WoodpeckerLevaillant's WoodpeckerThe Levaillant’s Woodpecker or Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker is a large member of the woodpecker family Piciformes. It occurs as a resident breeder in the three Maghreb countries Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in northwest Africa....
, Picus vaillantii - Red-collared WoodpeckerRed-collared WoodpeckerThe Red-collared Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, and Vietnam.Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Picus rabieri - Black-headed WoodpeckerBlack-headed WoodpeckerThe Black-headed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Picus erythropygius - Grey-headed WoodpeckerGrey-headed WoodpeckerThe Grey-headed Woodpecker , also known as the Grey-faced Woodpecker, is a Eurasian member of the woodpecker family Piciformes....
, Picus canus
- Banded Woodpecker
- Genus MulleripicusMulleripicusMulleripicus is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following three species:* Ashy Woodpecker * Sooty Woodpecker * Great Slaty Woodpecker...
- Ashy WoodpeckerAshy WoodpeckerThe Ashy Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Mulleripicus fulvus - Sooty WoodpeckerSooty WoodpeckerThe Sooty Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Mulleripicus funebris - Great Slaty WoodpeckerGreat Slaty WoodpeckerThe Great Slaty Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland...
, Mulleripicus pulverulentus
- Ashy Woodpecker
- Genus DryocopusDryocopusDryocopus is a genus of large powerful woodpeckers, typically 35–45 cm in length. It has representatives in North and South America, Europe, and Asia; some South American species are endangered...
- Helmeted WoodpeckerHelmeted WoodpeckerThe Helmeted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay....
, Dryocopus galeatus - Lineated WoodpeckerLineated WoodpeckerThe Lineated Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker which is a resident breeding bird from Mexico south to northern Argentina and on Trinidad.-Description:The Lineated Woodpecker is long...
, Dryocopus lineatus - Pileated WoodpeckerPileated WoodpeckerThe Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow-sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast. It is also the largest woodpecker in America.Adults are long, and weigh...
, Dryocopus pileatus - Black-bodied WoodpeckerBlack-bodied WoodpeckerThe Black-bodied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist savanna, and plantations ....
, Dryocopus schulzi - White-bellied WoodpeckerWhite-bellied WoodpeckerThe White-bellied Woodpecker is found in evergreen forests of tropical Asia. It has 14 subspecies, part of a complex including the Andaman Woodpecker . Many island forms are endangered, some are extinct. Populations differ in the distribution and extent of white...
, Dryocopus javensis - Andaman WoodpeckerAndaman WoodpeckerThe Andaman Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands in India. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Dryocopus hodgei - Black WoodpeckerBlack WoodpeckerThe Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, is a large woodpecker, 45–50 cm long with a 64–84 cm wingspan. Body weight is approximately 300-400 grams on average. It is easily the largest woodpecker in its range...
, Dryocopus martius
- Helmeted Woodpecker
- Genus CeleusCeleus (bird)Celeus is a genus of woodpeckers found in tropical and subtropical forests and woodland in Central and South America. Its members are:* Cinnamon Woodpecker, Celeus loricatus* Scaly-breasted Woodpecker, Celeus grammicus...
- Cinnamon WoodpeckerCinnamon WoodpeckerThe Cinnamon Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Celeus loricatus - Scaly-breasted WoodpeckerScaly-breasted WoodpeckerThe Scaly-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Celeus grammicus - Waved WoodpeckerWaved WoodpeckerThe Waved Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers.It is found in the Guianas of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana; also eastern border regions of Venezuela and the northeast Amazon Basin of northern Brazil including Marajo Island, Ilha de Marajo.Its natural habitat...
, Celeus undatus - Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Celeus castaneus
- Chestnut WoodpeckerChestnut WoodpeckerThe Chestnut Woodpecker, Celeus elegans, is a resident breeding bird in South America from Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas south to Ecuador, Bolivia and northern Brazil, and on Trinidad....
, Celeus elegans - Pale-crested WoodpeckerPale-crested WoodpeckerThe Pale-crested Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers and allies. It is found in central Bolivia and the pantanal region of southwest Brazil; also central Paraguay and the border region of northern Argentina.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry...
, Celeus lugubris - Blond-crested WoodpeckerBlond-crested WoodpeckerThe Blond-crested Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks.It is found in Brazil, southeastern Paraguay, and extreme northeastern Argentina...
, Celeus flavescens - Cream-colored WoodpeckerCream-colored WoodpeckerThe Cream-colored Woodpecker, Celeus flavus, is a species of woodpecker native to South America, from Colombia and the Guianas to Peru, Bolivia, and the eastern part of Brazil, including a southeast Brazil coastal strip. It is colored creamy yellow, except for the wingtips and tail, which are much...
, Celeus flavus - Rufous-headed WoodpeckerRufous-headed WoodpeckerThe Rufous-headed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It formerly included Kaempfer's Woodpecker as a subspecies....
, Celeus spectabilis - Caatinga Woodpecker, Celeus obrieni
- Ringed WoodpeckerRinged WoodpeckerThe Ringed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, the Amazon Basin and adjacent lower drainage of the Tocantins River in Pará state, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.Its...
, Celeus torquatus
- Cinnamon Woodpecker
- Genus PiculusPiculusPiculus is a genus of bird in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Rufous-winged Woodpecker * Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker * Lita Woodpecker...
- Rufous-winged WoodpeckerRufous-winged WoodpeckerThe Rufous-winged Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Piculus simplex - Stripe-cheeked WoodpeckerStripe-cheeked WoodpeckerThe Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Piculus callopterus, is a species of woodpecker endemic to Panama. The males are an orangish-brown above with an olive barred yellowish rump, an olive chest and throat with white spots, and dull yellow underparts. Their crown, nape, and moustachial region is a bright...
, Piculus callopterus - Lita WoodpeckerLita WoodpeckerThe Lita Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27 July 2007....
, Piculus litae - White-throated WoodpeckerWhite-throated WoodpeckerThe White-throated Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Piculus leucolaemus - Yellow-throated WoodpeckerYellow-throated WoodpeckerThe Yellow-throated Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks....
, Piculus flavigula - Golden-green WoodpeckerGolden-green WoodpeckerThe Golden-green Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family, the woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks....
, Piculus chrysochloros - Yellow-browed WoodpeckerYellow-browed WoodpeckerThe Yellow-browed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay....
, Piculus aurulentus
- Rufous-winged Woodpecker
- Genus ColaptesColaptesColaptes is the genus of woodpeckers which contains the flickers. The scientific name means "the pecker", Latinized from the Greek verb kolápto , "to peck"....
- Golden-olive WoodpeckerGolden-olive WoodpeckerThe Golden-olive Woodpecker, Colaptes rubiginosus, is a resident breeding bird from Mexico south and east to Guyana, northwest Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago. It was formerly placed in the genus Piculus...
, Colaptes rubiginosus - Gray-crowned Woodpecker, Colaptes auricularis
- Crimson-mantled WoodpeckerCrimson-mantled WoodpeckerThe Crimson-mantled Woodpecker is a bird species in the woodpecker family . It was formerly placed in the genus Piculus . Its scientific name rivolii was given in honor of André Masséna, duke of Rivoli.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela...
, Colaptes rivolii - Black-necked WoodpeckerBlack-necked WoodpeckerThe Black-necked Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Colaptes atricollis - Spot-breasted WoodpeckerSpot-breasted WoodpeckerThe Spot-breasted Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in South America in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela; also eastern Panama of Central America....
, Colaptes punctigula - Green-barred WoodpeckerGreen-barred WoodpeckerThe Green-barred Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. . The scientific name melanochloros derives from the Greek melanos, meaning "black", and chloros, "pale green", the principal colors of this bird...
, Colaptes melanochloros- Golden-breasted WoodpeckerGolden-breasted WoodpeckerThe Golden-breasted Woodpecker is a bird in the woodpecker family, Picidae. It is sometimes considered a distinct species C. melanolaimus...
, Colaptes (melanochloros) melanolaimus
- Golden-breasted Woodpecker
- Northern FlickerNorthern FlickerThe Northern Flicker is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and is one of the few woodpecker species that migrate. There are over 100 common names for the Northern Flicker...
, Colaptes auratus- Yellow-shafted Flicker, Colaptes (auratus) auratus
- Red-shafted Flicker, Colaptes (auratus) cafer
- Guadalupe Flicker, Colaptes auratus/cafer rufipileus - extinct (c.1910)
- Gilded FlickerGilded FlickerThe Gilded Flicker is a large-sized woodpecker of the Sonoran, Yuma, and eastern Colorado Desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico including all of the Baja Peninsula except the extreme northwestern region...
, Colaptes chrysoides - Fernandina's FlickerFernandina's FlickerFernandina's Flicker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family. Endemic to Cuba, its small population of 600–800 birds makes it one of the most endangered species of woodpecker in the world; only the possibly-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker is known to have a smaller population...
, Colaptes fernandinae - Chilean FlickerChilean FlickerThe Chilean Flicker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina and Chile.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest....
, Colaptes pitius - Andean FlickerAndean FlickerThe Andean Flicker is a South American species of woodpecker. It is found in grassland, shrubland and Polylepis woodland at altitudes of in the Andes from southern Ecuador to northern Chile and northwestern Argentina...
, Colaptes rupicola - Campo FlickerCampo FlickerThe Campo Flicker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family. It is found in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats in eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina, with isolated populations in Amapá and southern Suriname...
, Colaptes campestris
- Golden-olive Woodpecker
Tribe Megapicini
- Genus CampephilusCampephilusCampephilus is a genus of large American woodpeckers in the family Picidae.This genus was created by George Robert Gray, who suggested taking Campephilus principalis as the type for the genus. The name Campephilus means "lover of grubs" - an allusion to the diet of these birds, many of which feed...
- Powerful WoodpeckerPowerful WoodpeckerThe Powerful Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. This little-known species is a large woodpecker, 33–38 cm long, and is a close relative to the North American Ivory-billed Woodpecker.Its natural habitat is subtropical...
, Campephilus pollens - Crimson-bellied WoodpeckerCrimson-bellied WoodpeckerThe Crimson-bellied Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru....
, Campephilus haematogaster - Red-necked WoodpeckerRed-necked WoodpeckerThe Red-necked Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Campephilus rubricollis - Robust WoodpeckerRobust WoodpeckerThe Robust Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on...
, Campephilus robustus - Crimson-crested WoodpeckerCrimson-crested WoodpeckerThe Crimson-crested Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker which is a resident breeding bird from Panama south to northern border regions of Argentina, and on Trinidad....
, Campephilus melanoleucos - Guayaquil WoodpeckerGuayaquil WoodpeckerThe Guayaquil Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru....
, Campephilus gayaquilensis - Pale-billed WoodpeckerPale-billed WoodpeckerThe Pale-billed Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker that is a resident breeding bird from northern Mexico to western Panama.-Habitat:...
, Campephilus guatemalensis - Cream-backed WoodpeckerCream-backed WoodpeckerThe Cream-backed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Campephilus leucopogon - Magellanic WoodpeckerMagellanic WoodpeckerThe Magellanic Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker resident to Chile along the Andes, and to some parts of southwestern Argentina. This species is the southern-most example of the genus Campephilus, which includes the famous Ivory-billed Woodpecker.The Magellanic Woodpecker is 45 cm in length...
, Campephilus magellanicus - Ivory-billed WoodpeckerIvory-billed WoodpeckerThe Ivory-billed Woodpecker is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States...
, Campephilus principalis (possibly extinct) - Imperial WoodpeckerImperial WoodpeckerThe Imperial Woodpecker is – or was – a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. If it is not extinct, it is the world's largest woodpecker species at 56-60 cm long...
, Campephilus imperialis (possibly extinct)
- Powerful Woodpecker
- Genus ChrysocolaptesChrysocolaptesChrysocolaptes is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* White-naped Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus* Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus...
- White-naped WoodpeckerWhite-naped WoodpeckerThe White-naped Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus, is a woodpecker which is a widespread but scarce breeder in India and Sri Lanka.This flameback is a species associated with open forest and scrub with some trees...
, Chrysocolaptes festivus - Greater FlamebackGreater FlamebackThe Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, also known as Greater Goldenback, Large Golden-backed Woodpecker or Malherbe's Golden-backed Woodpecker, is a woodpecker species...
, Chrysocolaptes lucidus
- White-naped Woodpecker
- Genus Reinwardtipicus
- Orange-backed WoodpeckerOrange-backed WoodpeckerThe Orange-backed Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in Indonesia. It is the only member of the genus Reinwardtipicus.-References:*...
, Reinwardtipicus validus
- Orange-backed Woodpecker
- Genus BlythipicusBlythipicusBlythipicus is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Maroon Woodpecker * Bay Woodpecker...
- Maroon WoodpeckerMaroon WoodpeckerThe Maroon Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Blythipicus rubiginosus - Bay WoodpeckerBay WoodpeckerThe Bay Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist...
, Blythipicus pyrrhotis
- Maroon Woodpecker
- Genus GecinulusGecinulusGecinulus is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Pale-headed Woodpecker * Bamboo Woodpecker...
(Placement in Megapicini tentative)- Pale-headed WoodpeckerPale-headed WoodpeckerThe Pale-headed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Gecinulus grantia - Bamboo WoodpeckerBamboo WoodpeckerThe Bamboo Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Gecinulus viridis
- Pale-headed Woodpecker
- Genus Sapheopipo (Placement in Megapicini tentative)
- Okinawa WoodpeckerOkinawa WoodpeckerThe is a woodpecker endemic to the island of Okinawa in Japan. It is the only member of the genus Sapheopipo.This is a medium-sized , dark woodpecker. It is dark brown in color with red-tipped feathers. It has white spots on the primaries. The head is a paler brown, with a dark red crown on the...
, Sapheopipo noguchii
- Okinawa Woodpecker
External links
- Woodpecker videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Anatomy and Evolution of the Woodpecker's Tongue