Bird Guide

Chestnut Woodpecker vs Cuban Green Woodpecker

Chestnut Woodpecker (Celeus elegans)

Chestnut Woodpecker

Celeus elegans

Medium135 gForest

The chestnut woodpecker is about 26 to 32 cm (10 to 13 in) long. Subspecies C. e. hellmayri weighs 138 to 168 g (4.9 to 5.9 oz), C. e. leotaudi weighs 93 to 139 g (3.3 to 4.9 oz), and C. e. jumanus weighs 112 to 146 g (4.0 to 5.1 oz). Males of all subspecies have a wide bright red malar area and cheek; females have no red. In the nominate subspecies C. e. elegans adults of both sexes have a buffish cream forehead, crown, and crest. The rest of their head including the chin and throat are deep chestnut brown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ben Costamagna · CC BY 4.0
Cuban Green Woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus percussus)

Cuban Green Woodpecker

Xiphidiopicus percussus

Medium61 gForest

A medium-sized and colorful bird, the Cuban green woodpecker is similar to a sapsucker in general shape and size. Featuring olive green overparts and yellow, streaked underparts, the Cuban green woodpecker usually appears crested, and features a bright red upper breast, as well as a black chin contrasting a white face and supercilium. In males, a red crown is present, while females possess black crowns with white stripes. The area around the cloaca, or the crissum, is yellow with black barring. Voice: The Cuban green woodpecker's call is a short, harsh "jhhhorr, jhhhorr, jhhhorr," as well as a higher pitched "yeh-yeh-yeh." The call is usually single noted with double notes occasionally being uttered. It may sometimes produce a slurred, two-note call "ta-ha", which is similar to the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)'s call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Chestnut Woodpecker and Cuban Green Woodpecker.