Hispaniolan Woodpecker

The Hispaniolan woodpecker, Melanerpes striatus, is a medium-sized bird endemic to the island of Hispaniola, a land shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. This striking species is adorned with a black and gold barred plumage, extending from a length of 22 to 28 cm. The males are distinguished by their red crown and nape and possess a slightly longer beak than their female counterparts. The back and wings boast bold black and gold stripes, while the rump is tinged with greenish-yellow and red feather tips. The underparts are a mix of buff, brown, or olive with dark streaking along the flanks.

Identification Tips

Adult males feature a red crown and nape, with a black and white striped upper neck. Their beak is long, slender, and grey, and their legs are also grey. Females resemble males but have a black crown with a red nape. Juveniles can be identified by their black crown with white and red spotting, an orange nape, and a darker iris.

Habitat

The Hispaniolan woodpecker is versatile in its habitat preferences, inhabiting a range of environments from wet to dry forests, including broadleaf and coniferous types. It also frequents plantations, cactus scrub, mangroves, swamps, grasslands, palm groves, wooded agricultural areas, and urban parks.

Distribution

This species is found throughout the island of Hispaniola, which includes both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Behaviour

These woodpeckers are known for their social nature, often foraging in small, noisy groups. They exhibit a variety of visual displays, including bill-oriented and body movement displays, as well as dihedral flight, which are used for both confrontational and mating purposes.

Song & Calls

The Hispaniolan woodpecker is quite vocal, producing a symphony of yapping, squeaking, rolling, and nasal calls. Drumming is a less frequent part of their auditory repertoire.

Breeding

Breeding can occur throughout the year, with a peak season from March through August. These woodpeckers are communal nesters, with multiple pairs often sharing a single tree for their nesting sites. Both males and females participate in nest construction, incubation, and feeding of the young.

Diet and Feeding

An omnivorous bird, the Hispaniolan woodpecker's diet includes insects, spiders, scorpions, lizards, fruit, seeds, grain, and sap. They are adept at catching flying insects and will use an "anvil" to break up larger food items. They are also known to forage on the sides of tree trunks, rarely descending to the ground.

Conservation status

The Hispaniolan woodpecker is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.