Black-cheeked Woodpecker
NameBlack-cheeked Woodpecker
Common NameBlack-cheeked Woodpecker
Scientific NameMelanerpes pucherani
FamilyPicidae
Wingspan (cm)32
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)55
Plumage DetailsMales have a bright red crown and nape, a yellow forehead, and prominent black cheeks. The back and wings are black with fine white barring, while the underparts are buffy-yellow with fine black barring, featuring a distinctive red patch on the belly. Females have a black crown with a red nape.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a distinctive rattling or churring call, often described as 'churr-churr-churr' or 'krr-krr-krr'. They also engage in drumming on trees, a common behavior among woodpeckers.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in Central America, ranging from southeastern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, extending south into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.
Identifying Featuresred crown (male), yellow forehead, black cheeks, black and white barred back, red belly patch, buffy-yellow underparts with fine black barring
Description
A medium-sized, strikingly colored woodpecker found in Central and northern South America. This species typically forages on tree trunks and branches, excavating for insects or gleaning from the surface, often in pairs or small groups.
