Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Least Concern
Lafresnaye's Piculet (Picumnus lafresnayi)
Taxonomy
French: Picumne de Lafresnaye German: Lafresnayezwergspecht Spanish: Carpinterito de Lafresnaye
Taxonomy:
Picumnus Lafresnayi
Malherbe
, 1862,Ecuador
.
Subspecies and Distribution
P. l. lafresnayi
Malherbe, 1862 – SE Colombia, E Ecuador and N Peru (S to San Martín).
P. l. punctifrons
Taczanowski, 1886 – N Peru (SE Amazonas).
P. l. taczanowskii
Domaniewski, 1925 – NE & NC Peru (Huánuco to N Ayacucho).
P. l. pusillus
Pinto, 1936 – NC Brazil on middle R Amazon E to R Negro.
Descriptive notes
9–10 cm; 9–10 g. Male has dark olive-brown cap with red forecrown spots, whitish spots on rest of crown and nape; pale buff lores, whitish feather edges forming... read more
Voice
Largely silent, but occasional high-pitched “tseeyt, tsit”.
Habitat
Inhabits heavily forested, very humid country, preferring secondary growth, forest edges and... read more
Food and feeding
Termites; presumably also other small invertebrates. Forages in lower and middle strata. Gleaning is the only feeding technique recorded.... read more
Breeding
Few records available suggest nesting in Jul–Nov. One nest was in hole c. 3 m up in a shrub, and contained 2 eggs; both sexes care... read more
Movements
Presumably resident.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Uncommon to fairly common in Ecuador; regularly recorded on Baeza-Tena and Loreto roads. Considered rare in Peru.
Closely related to P. pumilus (which see) and has been thought conspecific; formerly considered conspecific with P. aurifrons, but may be closer to P. exilis. Four subspecies recognized.