Plain-breasted Piculet (Picumnus castelnau)

Identification & Behavior: ~9.5 cm (3.7 in). The Plain-breasted Piculet has gray upperparts with fine barring on the sides of the head and neck.  The underparts are off white and unmarked. Males and females have black top of the head, but only males have an orange crown. It is distinguished from Bar-breasted Piculet and Lafresnaye’s Piculet, by the unmarked underparts and by being largely restricted to Cecropia sp dominated forest along the floodplain of the Amazon and Ucayali Rivers.

Status: The Plain-breasted Piculet is restricted to relatively young Cecropia sp. dominated forest along rivers, river islands and second growth near rivers. It appears not to venture away from this habitat type. It also occurs in Co and Br.

Name in Spanish: Carpinterito de Pecho Llano.

Sub-species: Plain-breasted Piculet (Picumnus castelnau), Malherbe 1862.

Meaning of Name: Picumnus: Fr. Picumne, Piculet= little woodpecker. castelnau= after the French explorer, diplomat, and collector in tropical America François Louis Nompar of Caumont Laporte Conde de Castelnau.

See more of the Family Picidae