White-throated Woodpecker (Piculus leucolaemus)

Identification & Behavior: ~20 cm (7.9 in).  The White-throated Woodpecker has olive-green upperparts, sides of the head and tail. The underparts are scaled in the breast grading to barred in the mid and lower belly. The male has a red forehead, crown, and nape with a red and yellow malar streak. The female has a yellow malar streak and red only on the nape. It is similar to the Golden-Green Woodpecker but is distinguished by the scale pattern in the breast and whitish throat. It is also similar to Yellow-throated Woodpecker, which has yellow sides of the head and throat.

Status: The White-throated Woodpecker is generally uncommon in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 850 m along the foothill of the Andes. It forages alone or in pairs, and often joins mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy and subcanopy. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Carpintero de Garganta Blanca.

Sub-species: White-throated Woodpecker (Piculus leucolaemus), Natterer and Malherbe 1845.

Meaning of Name: Piculus: L. piculus= diminutive of Picus or a woodpecker. leucolaemus: Gr. leukos= white and Laimos= throat.

See more of the Family Picidae