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Hoffmann's Woodpecker - BirdForum Opus

Male
Photo by the late Jim Wood
Costa Rica, November 2008
Melanerpes hoffmannii

Identification

18 cm

  • Upperparts and wings barred black and white
  • White rump
  • Pale buffish-grey underparts
  • Yellow central belly patch

Male

Female
Photo by DiggitalD
Alajuela, Costa Rica
  • Red crown
  • White forehead
  • Yellow nape

Female

  • White crown and forehead
  • Yellow nape

Young birds: duller, less white upperparts and less yellow on the belly

Variation

At Tarcoles River in Costa Rica, this species adjoins the very similar Red-crowned Woodpecker. In a narrow region around this river and somewhat to the south, the birds have orange in the rear of their necks, indicating some hybrid origin.

Distribution

South America: found on the Pacific slope of southern Honduras, Nicaragua and northern half of the Pacific slope of Costa Rica.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Deciduous open woodland.

Behaviour

Breeding

The nest hole is unlined and high in a dead tree. The 2 or 3 glossy white eggs are incubated by both adults.

Diet

The diet includes insects, often extracted from decaying wood, and fruit and nectar.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Garrigues and Dean 2007. The birds of Costa Rica - a field guide. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-7373-9
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

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