Red-crowned Woodpecker
Melanerpes rubricapillus
The Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) is a common woodpecker found in 6 countries, weighing about 52 g. The red-crowned woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae.
About the Red-crowned Woodpecker
The red-crowned woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Tobago.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The red-crowned woodpecker is 16 to 18.5 cm (6.3 to 7.3 in) long and weighs 40 to 65 g (1.4 to 2.3 oz). The sexes' plumage is alike except for their head pattern. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a pale yellow to whitish forehead, a bright red crown, and an orange-red nape and hindneck. Adult females have the same pale yellow to whitish forehead but a pale gray-buff to whitish crown and a reddish to orange-red nape and hindneck. Both sexes' cheeks, chin, and throat are grayish-buff.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Red-crowned Woodpecker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-crowned Woodpecker?
- The red-crowned woodpecker is 16 to 18.5 cm (6.3 to 7.3 in) long and weighs 40 to 65 g (1.4 to 2.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-crowned Woodpecker?
- The Red-crowned Woodpecker is a small sized bird weighing about 52 g.
- Where can you see a Red-crowned Woodpecker?
- The Red-crowned Woodpecker occurs in 6 countries, including Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago.
- What birds look similar to a Red-crowned Woodpecker?
- The Red-crowned Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Hoffmann's Woodpecker, the Black-cheeked Woodpecker and the Lewis's Woodpecker.
- Is the Red-crowned Woodpecker endangered?
- The Red-crowned Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-crowned Woodpecker for real
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