Medium-sized black-and-white woodpecker with a dirty-yellow breast overlaid with fine black streaking. Male has a brilliant red crown extending from above the eye to the back of the neck. Similar Freckle-breasted Woodpecker has less warm-colored underparts and is considerably smaller. Stripe-breasted inhabits open forests, edges, gardens, and plantations from lowlands up into the mountains. Gives high-pitched sharp notes and long rattles; voice is generally higher-pitched than in other similar species. Joins mixed-species foraging flocks.