Pale-billed woodpecker

The pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is a very large woodpecker that is a resident breeding bird from northern Mexico to western Panama.

Pale-billed woodpecker
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Campephilus
Species:
C. guatemalensis
Binomial name
Campephilus guatemalensis
(Hartlaub, 1844)

Description

The pale-billed woodpecker is 37 cm (15 in) long and weighs 255 g (9.0 oz). It resembles the lineated woodpecker, but is larger and more robust. The adult is mainly black above with a pale bill, bushy crest, and white lines down the shoulders which almost meet in a V on its back. The throat is black and the rest of the underparts are white, heavily barred with black. The male has a red head and crest; the female is similar, but the crest and throat are black. The female can be distinguished from the lineated woodpecker by the absence of a white facial stripe.[2]

This bird has a characteristic drumming with two quick powerful taps. Its calls include nasal rattles and a keeu keeu keeu keeu breeding call.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in wet forests and adjacent second growth or semi-open woodland. Its range extends from northern Mexico to western Panama.

Behaviour

Two white eggs are laid in an unlined nest hole 3–30 m (9.8–98.4 ft) high in a tree and incubated by both sexes. The young hatch naked and are fed by both parents.

Pale-billed woodpeckers chip out holes, often quite large, while searching out insects in trees. They mainly eat beetle larvae, with some berries, lizards, or other fruit.[2]

This bird has been adversely affected by deforestation in parts of its range.

Threats and conservation

The pale-billed woodpecker is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is currently undergoing a moderate decline in population due to deforestation.[1] Populations in Mexico are listed as "subject to special protection" by the Mexican Official Norm NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.[3]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2020). "Campephilus guatemalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22681402A140973431. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22681402A140973431.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-8014-9600-4.
  3. Modificación del Anexo Normativo III, Lista de especies en riesgo de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (January 14, 2019).

Further reading
  • Skutch, Alexander F. (1969). "Pale-billed woodpecker" (PDF). Life Histories of Central American Birds III: Families Cotingidae, Pipridae, Formicariidae, Furnariidae, Dendrocolaptidae, and Picidae. Pacific Coast Avifauna, Number 35. Berkeley, California: Cooper Ornithological Society. pp. 440–445.
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