Ochre-backed Woodpecker Celeus ochraceus Scientific name definitions

Ochre-backed Woodpecker formerly was classified as a subspecies of Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens). Both species have a blond, crested head, and the males of both have a large red moustachial stripe, while females have a less prominent black moustache. The body plumage differs significantly, however: Blond-crested is mostly black, with a buffy rump, and narrow buff bars across the wings and the back; but in Ochre-backed, the underparts are dusky, although the feathers are tipped with cinnamon-buff, and the upperparts are predominately cinnamon-buff, spotted or streaked with blackish. Different as they are, these two species are reported to hybridize in eastern Brazil in Espírito Santo and southern Bahia. A further complication is that one subspecies of Blond-crested Woodpecker, intercedens, which occurs in the interior of eastern Brazil, is intermediate in appearance between the two. subspecies. Ochre-backed Woodpecker is a poorly known species of Celeus, although its biology probably is similar to that of other members of the genus.

c. 25–27 cm. Distinctive woodpecker. Male  has broad, short malar band  and adjoining cheek area dull red, rest of head including long pointed crest  , and chin, throat and neck buffy or cinnamon-tinged ochre, sometimes much black around eye; entire upperparts  cinnamon-buff to orange-ochre with variable black spots  and heart-shaped markings; flight-feathers black, secondaries broadly barred cinnamon-buff, tertials cinnamon-buff with black tips and bars; uppertail black, concealed outer feathers edged or barred pale buffish; underparts sooty, often with buff-cinnamon edges, rear flanks to undertail-coverts usually with much dark-barred cinnamon to buff; rather short bill almost pointed, culmen curved, fairly narrow across nostrils, horn-coloured or blue-grey to blackish, paler lower mandible; iris red or red-brown, orbital ring blue-grey; legs blue-grey. Female  lacks red on head  , malar region being streaky blackish  . Juvenile is duller than adult, head sometimes mostly brownish-black.

E Brazil from W Pará (S of Amazon) to Atlantic coast and S to E Bahia and Espírito Santo.

Humid forest, also savanna and caatinga; found at forest edge, in gallery forest, and in orchards. Lowlands.

Arboreal ants of genera Dolichoderus and Crematogaster, also Camponotus ants, and termites (Isoptera) are important part of diet; fruits  and berries also taken regularly. Generally seen in pairs or small family groups. Mainly arboreal, but will descend to ground to seek insects. Forages on slender branches , by gleaning and probing; also pecks and hammers, particularly on dead branches.

Loud  “tsew tsew”, “wee-wee-week”, also well-spaced series  of “wheep” notes; raucous “wicka” or “wícket wícket”. Drums rather weakly, roll evenly paced, c. 1–1·5 seconds, repeated at varying intervals.

Season Apr–Jun. Nest-hole  in tree, often in arboreal nest of ants. No other information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally not uncommon. Has reasonably large global range. Continuing destruction and fragmentation of its habitat indicate that this species is almost certainly decreasing in number, but not at a rate rapid enough to suggest that it is at risk. Nevertheless, this is a very poorly known woodpecker for which field studies and surveys are required.