Black-necked Woodpecker (Colaptes atricollis)

Identification & Behavior: ~24 cm (9.4 in). The Black-necked Woodpecker has barred upperparts and underparts. The throat and upper breast are black. The male has a red top of the head, nape, and red malar stripe. The female has a dark forehead and red on the nape without a red malar stripe. Both sexes have pale face and sides of the head. The head pattern is similar to that of Golden-Olive Woodpecker but is distinguished by being barred on the upper and underparts. These two woodpeckers may have limited overlap in northwest Peru.

Status: Endemic. The Black-necked Woodpecker is uncommon to rare along the west slope of the Andes where it ranges at elevations between 600-2800 m. It also occurs in the Marañon Drainage and E Slope of the Andes where it ranges at elevations between 900-3100 m.

Name in Spanish: Carpintero de Cuello Negro.

Sub-species: Black-necked Woodpecker (Colaptes atricollis atricollis), Malherbe 1850. W slope of Peruvian Andes from La Libertad and Ancash S to W Arequipa.
(C. a. peruvianus), Reichenbach 1854. Marañón Valley S on E slope to W Huánuco.

Meaning of Name: Colaptes: Gr. kolaptë, kolaptö = beak-shaped like a chisel, peck. atricollis: L. atra, ater, atri= dark, black. collis=necked.

See more of the Family Picidae