Golden-olive Woodpecker

The golden-olive woodpecker, Colaptes rubiginosus, is a medium-sized bird adorned with a predominantly green plumage tinged with bronze, a feature that gives rise to its name. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism in the coloration of the head, with males boasting a slate gray forehead and crown bordered by red, and a red malar stripe, while females have red only on the nape.

Identification Tips

Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a distinctive red border and nape, with a pale buff to whitish area from the lores around the eye. Females lack the red crown and have streaked malar areas. Both sexes share green upperparts with bronze hues, barred rumps, and uppertail coverts. Their underparts are pale buffy yellow with blackish olive bars, and they possess a medium-length bill that ranges from slaty gray to black.

Habitat

Golden-olive woodpeckers inhabit a diverse array of environments, from dry tropical thornscrubs to humid rainforests, including cloudforests, oak-pine woodlands, and mangroves. They are also found in forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, and shade-grown coffee plantations.

Distribution

This species is widespread, found from Mexico through Central America, across every mainland South American country except Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. It occupies elevations from sea level to 3,100 meters, depending on the region.

Behaviour

Golden-olive woodpeckers are year-round residents that forage alone or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. They exhibit a variety of foraging techniques, including pecking, hammering, probing, and gleaning to find their insect prey.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire includes a rising rattling trill, sharp calls, and a liquid series of notes. They also produce drumming sounds, which may be short rolls or clearly separated strikes.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with nesting occurring in tree cavities. Both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the nestlings by regurgitation. The exact duration of the incubation and the period from hatching to fledging are not well documented.

Similar Species

Variations among the 18 recognized subspecies can be subtle, with differences in size, back color, and underpart barring. However, no similar species are so widespread as to cause confusion across the entire range of the golden-olive woodpecker.

Diet and Feeding

The diet primarily consists of ants, termites, wood-boring beetles, and their larvae, supplemented occasionally by fruits and berries.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the golden-olive woodpecker as Least Concern. Despite an unknown population size and a suspected decline, the species is fairly common and occurs in many protected areas. Its adaptability to various wooded habitats suggests a secure future.