Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesForestCavity nestMedium · 62 g

About the Black-cheeked Woodpecker

The black-cheeked woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found from Mexico south to Ecuador.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The black-cheeked woodpecker is 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) long and weighs 42 to 68 g (1.5 to 2.4 oz). The sexes' plumage is alike except for their head pattern. Adult males have a golden yellow forehead and a red crown and nape. Adult females have a white to buffy white forehead, a black central crown, and a red hindcrown and nape. Both sexes have black around the eye that extends down the side of the neck and a white line behind the eye. Their upper back has black and white bars and their lower back and uppertail coverts are white with a pale buff tinge and sometimes some blackish bars.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Black-cheeked Woodpecker sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular range

When to see it

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Black-cheeked Woodpecker vs Red-crowned Woodpecker · Black-cheeked Woodpecker vs Hoffmann's Woodpecker · Black-cheeked Woodpecker vs Lewis's Woodpecker

Learn the Black-cheeked Woodpecker for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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