Scarlet-backed Woodpecker Dryobates callonotus Scientific name definitions
Text last updated January 15, 2015
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Catalan | picot escarlata |
Czech | datel šarlatový |
Dutch | Roodrugspecht |
English | Scarlet-backed Woodpecker |
English (United States) | Scarlet-backed Woodpecker |
French | Pic rubin |
French (France) | Pic rubin |
German | Scharlachrückenspecht |
Japanese | セアカハゲラ |
Norwegian | skarlagenspett |
Polish | dzięcioł szkarłatny |
Russian | Рубиновый дятел |
Serbian | Ekvadorski crveni detlić |
Slovak | ďateľ šarlátový |
Spanish | Carpintero Escarlata |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Carpintero Dorsiescarlata |
Spanish (Peru) | Carpintero de Dorso Escarlata |
Spanish (Spain) | Carpintero escarlata |
Swedish | rödryggig hackspett |
Turkish | Al Sırtlı Ağaçkakan |
Ukrainian | Дзьоган вогнистокрилий |
Dryobates callonotus (Waterhouse, 1841)
Definitions
- DRYOBATES
- dryobates
- callonotus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
These poorly known woodpeckers are small with bright red upperparts. They inhabit dry forests, scrubby regions with trees and cacti, semi-humid forests, and areas with thick vegetation near water. Frequently seen in pairs, Scarlet-backed Woodpeckers forage at all different heights, but their diet is unknown.
Field Identification
c. 13 cm; 23–33 g. Male has black feathers of forehead to nape extensively tipped red, greyish-brown ear-coverts; rest of face, including very thin line below eye, white, often dirtier or even brown on rear neck side, sometimes with hint of a thin dark malar line; brownish-scarlet upperparts, usually some brown feather bases showing through (more when worn); dark brown or blackish-brown flight-feathers, redder on secondaries and tertials; uppertail blackish-brown, central feather pair blacker, outer feathers whitish-yellow and barred black; white below with very light (variable) pale buff wash, sometimes faintly vermiculated darker; fairly long, broad bill, culmen straight or slightly curved, yellowish, usually darker base and sometimes tip; iris deep brown, occasionally deep red or tinged bluish; legs greenish-grey. Female has forehead to nape wholly black, often some white feathers at rear. Juvenile is heavily mottled with olive or greyish above, buffish-white below, head pattern more diffuse, male with small red feather tips on forecrown. Race <em>major</em> differs from nominate in darker ear-coverts with pale band behind and below, on average more dark vermiculations below.
Systematics History
Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.
Member of the V. passerinus clade (which see). Race major intergrades freely with nominate in SW Ecuador, where many individuals have intermediate appearance. Two subspecies recognized.Subspecies
Dryobates callonotus callonotus Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Dryobates callonotus callonotus (Waterhouse, 1841)
Definitions
- DRYOBATES
- dryobates
- callonotus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Dryobates callonotus major Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Dryobates callonotus major (Berlepsch & Taczanowski, 1884)
Definitions
- DRYOBATES
- dryobates
- callonotus
- major
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
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.
Habitat
Arid scrub with scattered trees and cacti, dry deciduous forest, semi-humid forest and edges, and dense growth along watercourses; also partially cleared areas. Lowlands to 1000 m, locally to 1400 m and to 1800 m (Loja) in Ecuador; to 1500 m in Peru.
Movement
Apparently resident.
Diet and Foraging
Details of diet not recorded. Often in pairs. Forages at various levels in trees, often on smaller branches and very thin twigs.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Commonest call a rattle, 1–2 seconds long; also sharp “ki-dik”, sometimes in short fast series.
Breeding
Little information. In W Ecuador, male with brood patch and nest with fledged young in Jul (1), juvenile seen in Jul, and immatures observed in Aug and October (2); copulation recorded in Aug .
Conservation Status
Not globally threatened. Reported to be very local in SW Colombia; fairly common in Ecuador and also in Peru . Occurs in Río Palenque Science Centre and Cerro Blanco Protected Reserve (Ecuador) and Tumbes National Reserve (Peru). Extension of range apparent in Ecuador since late 1970’s; has spread into more humid areas, presumably as a result of deforestation.