- Melanerpes herminieri
Identification
Back and wing coverts are bluish black, while tail and flight feathers on the wing are more brownish black. The breast is reddish to blood-colored (sometimes with an orange tint), while the belly is yellowish-orange. There is no sharp demarkation of plumage colors. Bill is dark, and 20% longer in male than female; this is the only clear sexual dimorphism in this species. Legs are grayish blue, with some yellowish on the feet. Iris is light brown, sometimes with a darker ring distally. Young birds are similar to adults but duller. Notice that contrary to many woodpeckers, this species normally does not undulate in flight.
Similar Species
The most similar species present in Guadeloupe at the moment probably is the Carib Grackle, which has many structural differences to the woodpecker.
Distribution
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is endemic to Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles, where it is found on the two largest islands, the interconnected Grande Terre and Basse Terre. It is the only Woodpecker in the Lesser Antilles.
Habitat
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is found in most forest types from sea level to about 1000 meters, however, it is doing better generally in Basse Terre than in Grande Terre.
Behavior
Feeding behavior includes pecking, probing and gleaning. Most of the fouraring occurs in the canopy, with males more often utilizing the trunk of a tree, while the female more often utilize branches; when both utilize branches, the male on average chooses heavier branches than the female. Food items sought include both insects and fruit. most of the insects are taken from dead wood. It will not flycatch contrary to e.g., the Jamaican Woodpecker. Notice that contrary to many woodpeckers, Guadeloupe Woodpecker normally does not undulate in flight.
Taxonomy
Conservation Concerns
A current population estimate is around 20000 with an uncertainty of about 4000. That is about the same as in 1994, however, due to habitat destruction and closure of a habitat corridor between the two islands, the outlook for about 20% of the population is rather grim. The species has not been seen traverse water and does not spread any significant distance over non-forested ground.
External Links
A beautiful monograph of this species was written by Pascal Villard (ISBN 2-9506548-6-X)
