Golden-green Woodpecker

The golden-green woodpecker, Piculus chrysochloros, is a medium-sized bird adorned with a striking plumage. Males and females share similar olive green upperparts and pale yellow-buff underparts with olive-brown bars. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in head coloration; males boast a vibrant red from the forehead to the nape, while females have an olive head with no red.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their red foreheads and napes, olive green lores, pale yellow stripes, and red malar bands. Females lack the red head coloration and instead have olive foreheads and napes with an olive-brown malar area. Both sexes have longish dark gray to blackish beaks with paler bases, white to bluish-white irises, and grayish-green legs.

Habitat

Golden-green woodpeckers inhabit a variety of wooded landscapes, including terra firme and várzea forests, rainforests, deciduous forests, and open areas like treed savannahs, pastures, and clearings.

Distribution

This species is found in Panama and across mainland South America, with the exception of Chile and Uruguay. Its range extends from sea level on the Atlantic coast to various elevations throughout its distribution.

Behaviour

Golden-green woodpeckers are year-round residents that forage mostly in the forest's subcanopy and canopy. They can be seen alone, in pairs, or as part of mixed-species feeding flocks, employing gleaning, pecking, and excavating to find food.

Song & Calls

The vocalization of the golden-green woodpecker is described as a series of 15 almost toneless, hoarse 'schraah' notes, reminiscent of a crying baby.

Breeding

Details on the breeding season vary geographically, with records from February to March in Colombia and September in Argentina. Nest cavities are excavated in trees or arboreal insect nests. Specifics on clutch size, incubation, fledging, and parental care are not well documented.

Similar Species

Subspecies differ in size, coloration, and markings, with variations in the brightness of yellow plumage, the presence of red in the malar area, and the base color of the underparts.

Diet and Feeding

While the diet of the golden-green woodpecker has not been extensively studied, it is known to include ants and termites.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the golden-green woodpecker as Least Concern. It has a vast range and a population estimated to be over half a million mature individuals. Though the population is believed to be decreasing, no immediate threats have been identified. The species' prevalence varies from rare to "not uncommon" across its range and is present in several protected areas.