How do you identify a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?

The rufous-headed woodpecker is about 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 114 g.

Where can you see a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker occurs in 5 countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.

What birds look similar to a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Helmeted Woodpecker, the Kaempfer's Woodpecker and the Ochre-backed Woodpecker.

Is the Rufous-headed Woodpecker endangered?

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Rufous-headed Woodpecker

Celeus spectabilis

Woodpeckers · Piciformes · Rare

The Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis) is a rare woodpecker found in 5 countries, weighing about 114 g. The rufous-headed woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebratesforestcavity nest114 g

Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis), photo 1 — Photo: Tristan Jobin · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis), photo 2 — Photo: Yuri Hooker · CC BY 1.0

Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis), photo 3 — Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jquental · CC BY 2.0

Rufous-headed Woodpecker (Celeus spectabilis), photo 4 — Photo: (c) Tristan Jobin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Rufous-headed Woodpecker

The rufous-headed woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

How to identify it

The rufous-headed woodpecker is about 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in) long. Subspecies C. s. exsul weighs about 111 g (3.9 oz); weight data are lacking for the nominate. The sexes differ only on their heads: Adult males of both subspecies have a deep red malar patch and a larger one on their bushy crest; females do not have the red malar and have at most a trace of red on the crest. Both sexes of both subspecies have a rufous-chestnut head. They have a cream-buff patch low on the neck that extends down the side of the breast and a black lower throat and breast.

Where it lives

Peru Ecuador Colombia Brazil Bolivia

When to see it

The Rufous-headed 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 Rufous-headed Woodpecker?: The rufous-headed woodpecker is about 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?: The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 114 g.
Where can you see a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?: The Rufous-headed Woodpecker occurs in 5 countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to a Rufous-headed Woodpecker?: The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Helmeted Woodpecker, the Kaempfer's Woodpecker and the Ochre-backed Woodpecker.
Is the Rufous-headed Woodpecker endangered?: The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Rufous-headed Woodpecker for real

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