Red-rumped Woodpecker
Veniliornis kirkii
The Red-rumped Woodpecker (Veniliornis kirkii) is a uncommon woodpecker found in 9 countries, weighing about 29 g. The red-rumped woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae.
About the Red-rumped Woodpecker
The red-rumped woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found from Costa Rica south to Peru and east to Brazil, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The red-rumped woodpecker is about 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long and weighs 30 to 42 g (1.1 to 1.5 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads. Males of the nominate subspecies kirkii have a red crown and nape with some dusky brown or dark gray feather tips. The female has a dark brown crown with a tinge of green. Adults of both sexes have mostly olive-brown faces with whitish streaks. Their upperparts are mostly golden olive-brown with some yellow and red feather tips and crimson-red rump and uppertail coverts.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Red-rumped Woodpecker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-rumped Woodpecker?
- The red-rumped woodpecker is about 15 to 16 cm (5.9 to 6.3 in) long and weighs 30 to 42 g (1.1 to 1.5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-rumped Woodpecker?
- The Red-rumped Woodpecker is a small sized bird weighing about 29 g.
- Where can you see a Red-rumped Woodpecker?
- The Red-rumped Woodpecker occurs in 9 countries, including Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela and Costa Rica.
- What birds look similar to a Red-rumped Woodpecker?
- The Red-rumped Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Striped Woodpecker, the Red-stained Woodpecker and the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker.
- Is the Red-rumped Woodpecker endangered?
- The Red-rumped Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-rumped Woodpecker for real
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