Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani)

Identification & Behavior: ~The Black-cheeked Woodpecker has black upperpart with white-barred mantled and spotted wings. The face and sides of the neck are also black. The throat and breast are brownish-buff with barred belly and central red area. The male has a red cap and nape. Females have only the nape red. It is the only medium size woodpecker with a dark back within its range. Resembles the Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, but their ranges do not overlap.

Status: The Black-cheeked Woodpeckers is known in Peru through a few sight record from El Caucho Field Station, and Isla Noblecilla within the Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape. Both in Región de Tumbes. It also occurs in Co, and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Carpintero de Cara Negra.

Sub-species: Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani), Malherbe 1849.

Meaning of Name: Melanerpes: Gr. melas= black and herpes= climbing. pucherani: in honor of Jacques Pucheran, French zoologist and author.

See more of the Family Picidae