Rufous-headed Woodpecker Celeus spectabilis Scientific name definitions

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is arguably one of the more spectacular and specialized woodpeckers in South America. It is a member of the genus Celeus that is found in western Amazonia from eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru south through western Brazil to northern Bolivia. Throughout much of its range, it is highly specialized on, and found in stands of Guadua bamboo that grows along the edge of the larger rivers. Elsewhere, such as in eastern Ecuador, where Guadua bamboo is less common, the Rufous-headed Woodpecker is present in riverine habitats, in particular stands of dense cane (Gynerium sp.). Superficially resembles the stunning Ringed Woodpecker (Celeus torquatus), but differs by having an entirely bright “rufous” head, an ornately patterned body of black bars and spots on a creamy-buff background, and un-patterned rufous flight feathers. Females differ by lacking the red flicker-like red moustache of the male. To round out an already amazing-looking bird, the bill is yellowish, and the eyes are blue-gray. The range of Rufous-headed Woodpecker overlaps with Ringed Woodpecker, but that species is found in the canopy of terra firme and transitional forest. Similarly, it overlaps with other Celeus species, but none resemble the ornate-looking Rufous-headed. It is generally very shy and difficult to see as both bamboo and cane are difficult habitats to penetrate, and males call infrequently. The main vocalization is a somewhat faint “hee-er-er-er-er-er,” but hearing a gently tapping on the bamboo stalks is a better method of detection.

c. 26–28 cm; 111 g (exsul). Male has rufous-chestnut head and bushy crest, deep red malar patch, yellow to cream-buff patch on lower neck side and down side of breast, large area of dull red from above ear-coverts into crest; lower throat to breast black; hindneck to upper back and scapulars creamy-buff to pale cinnamon-yellow with very broad black bars, lower back to uppertail-coverts yellow-buff to cinnamon-buff, occasionally with a few black streaks; black wing-coverts edged and narrowly barred cream-buff; brownish-black primaries with rufous at base, inner primaries becoming more rufous, secondaries and tertials wholly rufous-chestnut with black tips, shorter tertials usually barred black; uppertail black, concealed outer feather sometimes pale-barred; breast side and rest of underparts cream-buff to pale cinnamon-buff, black of breast breaking up into heavy bars, more as chevrons on flanks and lower underparts; underwing rufous-cinnamon, coverts black-barred cinnamon-buff; bill chisel-tipped, culmen slightly curved, relatively broad across nostrils, pale yellowish or greyish-ivory; iris deep red-brown; legs olive-green to greyish. Female lacks red on head , but may show trace in crest. Juvenile as adult, but much blackish colour around front of head, more red in crown area, bill darker. Race exsul resembles nominate, but underpart barring  very variable with individual, ranging almost to extremes of other two races, though most commonly less barred below than nominate, with heart-shaped or chevron markings below black breast patch  , a few spots on belly and bars on flanks.

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.

Present species included C. obrieni until recent discovery of latter in the wild (1 Mallet-Rodrigues, F. (2007). Táxons de aves de validade questionável com ocorrência no Brasil. VII: Picidae. Atualidades Ornitológicas 140:8–9. Close ). Both taxa currently under C. spectabilis shown to differ from obrieni in having lower breast to vent (and underwing-coverts) extensively mottled and barred black on yellowish-buff vs clear pale dull yellowish-buff (3); nape, mantle and wing-coverts heavily barred black on yellow-buff, the black greatly predominating, with tertials dull chestnut vs predominantly pale dull yellowish-buff (slightly paler, less orangey, than below), with broad dark barring on wing-coverts (but still with more pale than dark coloration) and a few marks on scapulars and tertials (3); tertials dull chestnut as on secondaries vs pale dull rufous-tinged yellowish-buff (2); back to uppertail-coverts darker and more orangey vs paler orangey yellowish-buff (ns[1]); bill appearing less deeply and less extensively yellowish distally, although this could be individual variation (ns); larger size (at least 1). Separate species status supported also by recent molecular studies (2 Benz, B. W., and M. B. Robbins (2011). Molecular phylogenetics, vocalizations, and species limits in Celeus woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 61(1):29–44. Close , 3 Azevedo, L. S., A. Aleixo, M. P. D. Santos, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, M. Vallinoto, and P. S. Rêgo (2013). New molecular evidence supports the species status of Kaempfer’s Woodpecker (Aves, Picidae). Genetics and Molecular Biology 36(2):192–200. Close ), which indicate that obrieni is sister to C. spectabilis.Two subspecies recognized.

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.

Inhabits humid tropical forest, especially along rivers and on river islands. Regularly found in bamboo (Chusquea, Guadua) thickets in Peru, and also strongly associated with bamboo  in W Brazil  ; in Ecuador, favours areas with Cecropia trees and cane (Gynerium) understorey, as well as Heliconia. Occurs in lowlands, up to c. 300 m.

Feeds on bamboo ants; few details of diet recorded to date, although probably feeds also on other insects. Forages  singly or in pairs, from dense undergrowth up to middle and upper levels of forest. Also descends to ground to work over fallen logs. Probes on trunks and branches, e.g. of Cecropia; pecks rather forcefully, and more frequently than most of its congeners, except possibly C. torquatus. Observed pecking at horizontal bamboo  stems, at heights of 3–10 m, in W Brazil.

Song a loud squealing “skweeah”  followed by bubbling “kluh-kluh-kluh-kluh-kluh” series; gives a mewing chuckle, “wur-hee-hrr-hrr-hrr”, and harsh squawks when agitated and in flight (2 Benz, B. W., and M. B. Robbins (2011). Molecular phylogenetics, vocalizations, and species limits in Celeus woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 61(1):29–44. Close , 4 Gorman, G. (2014). Woodpeckers of the World. The Complete Guide. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Drums  on hollow bamboo, rolls being evenly pitched, and sometimes loud (e.g. when made on hollow, hard bamboo) (4 Gorman, G. (2014). Woodpeckers of the World. The Complete Guide. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Rare generally; appears to be not uncommon in W Brazil. In SE Peru, 3–4 territories located in c. 150 ha of bamboo habitats surveyed. Regularly recorded in Manu Wildlife Center and Tambopata Research Center (Peru). Rediscovered in Ecuador, at Sacha Lodge, in 1994, after absence of records since 1965; subsequently observed in that country at La Selva, near Pompeya, at Yuturi and at Kapawi Lodge. Very poorly known species; field study and surveys required to determine its true status, as well as its ecology and breeding habits. Although this woodpecker’s population size is not known, it is thought not to be decreasing at a rate which would put it at serious risk. In view of its apparently strict habitat requirements and its low density and general scarcity, however, it may perhaps merit the conservation status of Near Threatened.