Bird Guide

Crimson-crested Woodpecker vs Red-necked Woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucos)

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Medium256 gForest

The crimson-crested woodpecker is 33 to 36 cm (13 to 14 in) long and weighs 225 to 281 g (7.9 to 9.9 oz). It is one of the largest woodpeckers in its range, though the higher elevation powerful woodpecker (C. pollens) is roughly the same size. Both sexes of the nominate subspecies C. m. melanoleucos have black upperparts from nape to rump; their rump, wings, and tail are brownish black. They have vertical white stripes on the sides of their neck that continue onto their back and form a "V". Their flight feathers have pale white or yellow or yellowish white edges.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com · CC BY 3.0
Red-necked Woodpecker (Campephilus rubricollis)

Red-necked Woodpecker

Campephilus rubricollis

Medium211 gForest

The red-necked woodpecker is about 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) long and weighs 178 to 236 g (6.3 to 8.3 oz). Both sexes of the nominate subspecies C. r. rubricollis have black to brownish black upperparts. Their wings' upper surface is black with rufous on the flight feathers' inner vanes. The wings' underside is rufous with a blackish trailing edge and feather tips. Their tail is black above and brownish black below. Their underparts are bright red on the breast becoming rufous to rufous cinnamon at the vent.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Vincent A. Vos · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Crimson-crested Woodpecker and Red-necked Woodpecker.