A large green woodpecker with a distinctive black-and-white scaly pattern running from the belly to the tail. The crown is red in males and black in females. It inhabits open forests and scrub, where it will often feed on the ground to look for ants and termites. Similar to Streak-throated Woodpecker, but the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker has an unmarked throat and breast, a longer bill, barring on the uppertail, and a darker cheek stripe. Calls include a high-pitched “kwik” and a ringing “kwee-kik.”