Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus Scientific name definitions

c. 25 cm; 66–96 g. Male has dark red forehead to hindcrown, often dark olive feather bases showing through, elongated crest of red feathers, yellow under crest and down hindneck; black lores, short red malar stripe, brownish throat; rest of head olive-green; upperparts green, rump somewhat paler, wing-coverts crimson-red, red often extending partly onto scapulars; green tertials crimson-red on outer webs; primaries and secondaries blackish-brown, outer webs of secondaries and basal edges of primaries crimson-red, well-spaced pale yellowish spots on inner webs of all feathers and on outer webs of most primaries; uppertail brownish-black; dark olive to olive-green below, flanks with some pale buffish spots or small chevrons; underwing brown, barred pale yellowish on coverts and bases of flight-feathers; longish bill almost straight, chisel-tipped, broad across nostrils, dark brown or grey-brown, contrasting yellowish lower mandible; iris red to red-brown, orbital ring blue to blue-grey; legs dark greenish to olive. Female lacks red malar. Juvenile duller than adult, with more extensive markings below, red of head normally confined to rear and side of crown, male with at least some red tips in malar. Other races smaller and paler than nominate: <em>observandus</em> is yellowish-green above , with more yellow in crest, bright yellow rump, olive-green throat; soligae is even yellower above, greyer below, with red of crown extending farther on to crest, often more bars on flanks.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Mainly ants and termites (Isoptera), including their eggs and grubs. Forages singly, but mainly in pairs, partners keeping contact at moderate distances; regularly joins mixed-species flocks. Favours tall trees, particularly emergent forest trees, even those in lower second growth or free-standing. Forages mainly in canopy, on trunks and major branches. Explores bark, especially where lichens present, and crevices; hammers in short bursts, frequently in hard live wood, and probes, gleans, and removes pieces of bark. Moves rather systematically, rarely spending much time at a single spot.

Distinctive “peé-bee”, second syllable a little lower and shorter, sometimes extended to “peé-dee-dee-dee”; single short “peep” heard occasionally; 5–7 or low-pitched “peep” notes, c. 2 per second, in encounters; low “wee-eek” series at close encounters. Drums weakly, short bursts less than 1 second long.