Bird Guide

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker vs Spot-breasted Woodpecker

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
Spot-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula)

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes punctigula

Medium62 gForest

The spot-breasted woodpecker is 18 to 21 cm (7.1 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 50 to 79 g (1.8 to 2.8 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads. Adult males of the nominate subspecies C. p. punctigula have a black forehead and forecrown and a red hindcrown and nape. They are white from their lores around the eye to the nape with a red malar stripe below it. Their chin and throat are black with white spots. Adult females have red only on the very back of the crown. Voice: The spot-breasted woodpecker has a large vocal repertoire. It includes "high-pitched weak and nasal 'wha' or 'kah' or 'keeh' in series", a series of "peek" notes in alarm, a "whew" whistle when courting or challenging a rival, a series of "ta-wick" or "week-a" calls in display, a "fast series of 'wick' notes", and "low soft 'pee-ya' calls at intimate meetings" between a pair.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Spot-breasted Woodpecker
Recorded by Hugo Oliveros-Salas · Call · Baranoa, Atlantico, Colombia · CC0
Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com · CC BY 3.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

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