BeakBrain
Menu
Bird GuideDaily BirdCamsTripsCommunityGet the app

Puerto Rican Woodpecker

Melanerpes portoricensis

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernEndemicInvertebratesForestCavity nestSmall · 60 g
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 1
Photo: Ryan Douglas · CC BY 3.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 2
Photo: Fleiwerks · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 3
Photo: Ron Knight · CC BY 2.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 4
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 5
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 6
Photo: Ryan F. Mandelbaum · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 7
Photo: Matt Felperin · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 8
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 9
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis), photo 10
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Puerto Rican Woodpecker

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Puerto Rican Woodpecker

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Puerto Rico

About the Puerto Rican Woodpecker

The Puerto Rican woodpecker is the only woodpecker endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico and is one of the five species of the genus Melanerpes that occur in the Antilles. Furthermore, it is the only resident species of the family Picidae in Puerto Rico. The species is common on the main island of Puerto Rico and rare on the island of Vieques.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys) Golden-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysogenysThe golden-cheeked woodpecker is about 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 55 to 88 g (1.9 to 3.1 oz). White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus) White WoodpeckerMelanerpes candidusThis woodpecker grows to a length of 24 to 29 cm (9.4 to 11.4 in) and weighs around 108 g (3.8 oz), with a range of 98 to 131 g (3.5 to 4.6 oz). Yucatan Woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus) Yucatan WoodpeckerMelanerpes pygmaeusThe adult Yucatan woodpecker is 17 cm (6.7 in) in length.

Side by side: Puerto Rican Woodpecker vs Yellow-tufted Woodpecker · Puerto Rican Woodpecker vs White Woodpecker · Golden-cheeked Woodpecker vs Puerto Rican Woodpecker · Puerto Rican Woodpecker vs Rufous Woodpecker · Puerto Rican Woodpecker vs Yucatan Woodpecker

Learn the Puerto Rican Woodpecker in the BeakBrain App

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

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.