Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Least Concern

Black-crowned Woodpecker (Colaptes atriceps)

figure, drawing, illustration of Black-crowned Woodpecker (Colaptes atriceps)

Taxonomy

French: Pic à calotte noire German: Schwarzscheitelspecht Spanish: Carpintero candela capirotado
Taxonomy:

Hypoxanthus atriceps

P. L. Sclater and Salvin

, 1876,

Huasampilla, Peru

.

Hitherto considered conspecific with C. rivolii, but differs in its pure black crown vs black crown with fine crimson streaking (either throughout in male, or on hindcrown in female) (2); golden-buff vs crimson edging of scaly breast feathers (2); less crimson and more golden-olive in secondaries and wing-coverts (2); shorter bill (effect size −2.66, score 2); different song, a “descending low churr, quite different from that of brevirostris”#R (at least 2). Both were previously placed in Piculus, but recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that placement in Colaptes is more appropriate#R.Monotypic.

Distribution:

SE Peru and W & C Bolivia.

Descriptive notes

c. 27 cm. Male has black forehead and crown, red nape and hindneck, olive-tinged lores and ear-coverts, black malar feathers tipped red; upperparts bronzy olive, darker on... read more

Voice

Call a low-pitched, loud rolling “chrrr-rr-r-r” on descending scale; also single or repeated “kik... read more

Habitat

Tall humid and wet montane forests, mostly at c. 1500–3700 m.

Food and feeding

Few specific data available. Known to consume ants; probably takes other small invertebrates, and likely to eat some fruit. Forages singly... read more

Breeding

No documented information. Season probably Jun–Nov.

Movements

Resident; possibly some altitudinal movement.

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Has reasonably large range within which it appears to be uncommon; perhaps often overlooked. Global population thought to be stable,... read more

Recommended citation

del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Christie, D.A. (2019). Black-crowned Woodpecker (Colaptes atriceps). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/467475 on 25 June 2019).