Dominican Republic Woodpecker (1 Viewer)

[steve covey]

A friend sent me this photo taken on a recent holiday to said Island. Neither he nor I have field guides covering this region so can anyone tell me/us what it is? He said it appeared to be living in colonies in the palm trees.
Cheers,
Steve.
Edit: Just done a search and found Hispaniolan Woodpecker, which this looks remarkably similar too. Could it be this [endemic] species?

 

[Mark Harper]

Never been there, but it looks a good match to that specie in the field guide.

 

[steve covey]

Never been there, but it looks a good match to that specie in the field guide.

Thanks Mark. The entry in Wikipedia matches perfectly - even down to them nesting colonially in palm tree trunks. My mate will be pleased he's seen one of the endemics. He's more of an insect nut - particularly dragonflies [as am I these days] and he photographed one species which may be new to science - how cool is that?!!
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[lewis20126]

A friend sent me this photo taken on a recent holiday to said Island. Neither he nor I have field guides covering this region so can anyone tell me/us what it is? He said it appeared to be living in colonies in the palm trees.
Cheers,
Steve.
Edit: Just done a search and found Hispaniolan Woodpecker, which this looks remarkably similar too. Could it be this [endemic] species?

Yes it is Hisp Woodie - they are abundant in the DR and can be found around many hotels, often viewable from the pool at a hotel i know in Boca Chica!

 

[steve covey]

Yes it is Hisp Woodie - they are abundant in the DR and can be found around many hotels, often viewable from the pool at a hotel i know in Boca Chica!

Many thanks Lewis.
Steve.

 

[Birdingcraft]

Yes, as others have said, this is Hispanolian Woodpecker- one of the most common, conspicuous and delightful endemics on Hispanolia. You see them just about everywhere- even in Santo Domingo.