Bird Guide

Puerto Rican Woodpecker vs Yucatan Woodpecker

Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis)

Puerto Rican Woodpecker

Melanerpes portoricensis

Small60 gForest

The Puerto Rican woodpecker has a black body and a bright red throat and breast. It has a white patch that runs across the head from eye to eye. Its flanks and lower body have a light tangerine coloration. As with the majority of birds sexual dimorphism is present in this species. The males' throat and breast are more brightly colored than the females' with females tending to be all-around duller in coloration. There is also a substantial (~18%) difference in bill length between sexes. Also males are slightly bigger than females. Its average weight is 56.0 grams.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ryan Douglas · CC BY 3.0
Yucatan Woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus)

Yucatan Woodpecker

Melanerpes pygmaeus

Small39 gShrubland

The adult Yucatan woodpecker is 17 cm (6.7 in) in length. Adults are mainly light gray on the face and underparts; they have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings and tail. Adult males have a red cap going from the eye to the nape, whereas the red cap is only in the occipital area in the females. There are yellow feathers around the base of the bill. There may be a yellowish tinge to the belly and a red wash to the vent area.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: danygl · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Puerto Rican Woodpecker and Yucatan Woodpecker.