- Campephilus gayaquilensis
Identification
A large (33-35cm, 13-13.75in.) woodpecker with crested scarlet red head and a black back decorated with a dramatic white V-shaped cape. Underparts are yellow-brown with heavy barring.
The male has a black and white spot on the side of the head embedded in the red crest. The female lacks the spot while instead having a white stripe from just below the bill through the crest, which is otherwise shared between the two sexes.
Similar Species
Although most members of this genus have similar appearances, identification is easy when distribution is taken into account; this is the only one on the west slope with a small, black-and-white auricular spot. Among the species on the west slope, the Lineated Woodpecker is most similar, but it has either a black and white stripe through the crest (male) or red limited to the rear of the head (female). High elevation and eastern slope species include the more closely-related Crimson-crested Woodpecker which is even more similar in appearance, but has white at the base of the bill, and most importantly, is only found on the eastern slope of the Andes.
Distribution
West of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Humid forests in lowlands and foothills to elevations of 1400m.
Behaviour
Diet
Forages on trees in typical woodpecker fashion, hitching upward and chiseling under the bark for beetles and larvae. Little is actually known about their diet but is presumably similar to Crimson-crested Woodpecker. They are often in pairs and will work the same tree for long periods, in contrast to woodcreepers.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Guayaquil Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Guayaquil_Woodpecker
