Bird Guide

Andean Flicker vs Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola)

Andean Flicker

Colaptes rupicola

Medium174 gGrassland

The Andean flicker is about 32 cm (13 in) long. Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads. Adult males of the nominate subspecies are dark slate gray from forehead to hindneck; the last occasionally has a hint of red. Their face, chin, and throat are pale buffy white with a thin black malar stripe with red tips on the feathers. Adult females have an all-black malar stripe and never any red on the hindneck. Both sexes' upperparts are barred with brown, light brown, and buffy white; their uppertail coverts are white with narrow dark bars. Voice: The Andean flicker has a large vocal repertoire. Its most common calls are "a loud, piercing kweeir...and a loud tew-tew-tew". Males display with a "kwa-kwa-kwa, wee-a, wee-a or kway-áp call". They also make "single or grouped peek or kek" calls that are thought to be for contact or alarm, and "a clear descending trill, brrrridip" that is thought to be for long-distance communication.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Andean Flicker
Recorded by Belén y Diego · Uncertain · Valle Colorado, Valle Grande, Jujuy, Argentina · CC0
Photo: Diego Carús · CC0
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (Colaptes rivolii)

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

Medium102 gForest

The crimson-mantled woodpecker is 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10 in) long and weighs 85 to 112 g (3.0 to 4.0 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads. Adult males of the nominate subspecies C. r. rivolii have a red crown. Their face is mostly pale yellow with a dark red malar stripe and a black chin and throat. Adult females have a black crown and malar stripe. Both sexes have a crimson red nape and mantle; their rump and uppertail coverts are black. Their wings are bronzy red and their tail is black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call, drumming · Azuay: upper Yunguilla Valley, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andean Flicker and Crimson-mantled Woodpecker.