PICIFORMES of South America
The order Piciformes is made up of the woodpecker family Picidae plus 8 other families. Picidae make up about half of the species. In general, the Piciformes are insectivorous, but some exceptions eat mostly fruit. Nearly all Piciformes have parrot-like feet—two toes forward and two back, an arrangement that has obvious advantages for birds that spend much of their time on tree trunks. And most Piciformes do not have down feathers at any age, only true feathers. All nest in cavites. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Woodpeckers and Allies
Order Piciformes Suborder Pici Family Picidae
The woodpeckers family members are found almost worldwide. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known to live in treeless areas such as rocky hillsides and deserts. They range in size from 8-50cm. Many species exhibit patches of red and yellow on their heads and bellies, and these bright areas are important in signalling. Although the sexes of Picidae species tend to look alike, many have more prominent red or yellow head markings in males than in females.
Members of the family Picidae have strong bills for drilling and drumming on trees and long sticky tongues for extracting food. Species that use their bills in soil or for probing as opposed to regular hammering tend to have longer and more decurved bills. To prevent brain damage from the rapid and repeated decelerations, woodpeckers have evolved a number of adaptations to protect the brain. These include small brain size and the short duration of contact. The millisecond before contact with wood a thickened membrane closes, protecting the eye from flying debris. The nostrils are also protected; they are often slit-like and have special feathers to cover them. In addition to the strong claws and feet woodpeckers have short strong legs, this is typical of birds that regularly forage on trunks. The tails of most woodpeckers are stiffened, and when the bird perches on vertical surfaces, the tail and feet work together to support it. Picidae species can either be sedentary or migratory. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Genus Campephilus
The name means "lover of grubs". For similarly appearing woodpeckers, see Chrysocolaptes and also Dryocopus.
Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Campephilus melanoleucos Found: South America
Photographed by: Cláudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil
Woodpecker, Robust Campephilus robustus Found: South America
Photographed by: Cláudio Timm - Santa Catarina, Brazil
Genus Colpates
Colpates includes the flicker. These woodpeckers are found more often on the ground than most other woodpeckers. Genus Picus can be considered to be their Old World counterparts.
Woodpecker, Black-necked Colaptes atricollis Found: Peru, Argentina (infrequent)
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen - the Buenos Aires reserve, Argentina
Flicker, Campo Colaptes campestris Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Dario Sanches - Brazil 2) Wagner Lemes 3, 4, 5) Cláudio Timm in Tacuarembó, Uruguay
1, 2) Male 3, 4) Female 5) Juvenile
Flicker, Field Colaptes campestroides Found: South America
The Field Flicker is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the Campo Flicker, Colaptes campestris.
Photographed by: Lip Kee Yap
Woodpecker, Golden-olive Colaptes rubiginosus Found: Central and South America
Photographed by 1) New Jersy Birds 2) KaleFerguson 3) Dominic Sherony
Woodpecker, Green-barred Colaptes melanochloros Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Cláudio Timm - Santa Tereza Park, Uruguay 2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil
4) Charlie Westerinen - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Genus Dryocopus
These are large powerful woodpecks, usually with a black back and red on the head. In their quest for insects, as well as for rearing their young, they chip out large hoes in trees. For similarly appearing woodpeckers, see Campephilus and Chrysocolaptes.
Woodpecker, Lineated Dryocopus lineatus Found: Central America and South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil
Genus Lepidocolaptes
Woodpecker, Narrow-billed Lepidocolaptes angustirostris Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Dario Sanches - Brazil 2) Rodrigo Jesus Melo 3) Lip Kee Yap
Genus Melanerpes
Their name means "black creeper". They are new world woodpeckers.
Woodpecker, Black-cheeked Melanerpes pucherani Found: Central and South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica
Woodpecker, Red-crowned Melanerpes rubricapillus Found:South America
Photographed by: 1) Shawnna Porter 2) Thomas Junier
1) Male 2) Female
Woodpecker, White Melanerpes candidus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches - Brazil 3,4) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
4) Female
Woodpecker, Yellow-fronted Melanerpes flavifrons Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Dario Sanches - Brazil 2) Thunderdc
Genus Piculus
Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Piculus aurulentus Found: South America
Photographed by: Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Genus Picumnus
Piculet, Mottled Picumnus temminckii Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1, 2) Male
Piculet, Ochre-collared Picumnus temminckii Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil
Piculet, White-barred Picumnus cirratus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Paraná River border, Argentina,
Genus Veniliornis
Woodpecker, Little Veniliornis passerinus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1) Male 2, 3) Female
Woodpecker, White-spotted Veniliornis spilogaster Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Dario Sanches - Brazil 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1, 2) Male 3) Female
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Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.