- Campephilus pollens
Identification
A large (33.4-35.4cm (13.25-14in.) woodpecker typical of this genus; red crested head with dramatic white and black stripes, black back with white V-shaped cape. The female lacks the red head crest.
Distribution
Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized:[1]
Habitat
Scarce in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, mainly between 1700 and 2600m elevation; higher than any other Campephilus.
Behaviour
Usually found foraging in pairs, where they use their powerful beaks to chisel deeply into trees in quest of beetles and grubs. Stays relatively low on the trunk. This species is not numerous within a wide range, and thus encounters may be infrequent, but their drumming can be heard at a distance, which can lead the observer to the bird, similarly to other Campephilus woodpeckers.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
