The Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) is endemic in southwestern Costa Rica south to Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas and Tobago. They occur in forests and semi-open woodland and cultivation.
Description:
Adults average 20.5 cm in length and weigh 48g.
They have a zebra-barred black and white back and wings and a white rump. The tail is black with some white barring, and the underparts are pale buff-brown.
The male has a red crown patch and nape.
The female has a buff crown and duller nape.
Immature birds are duller, particularly in the red areas of the head and neck.
Diet:
They feed on insects, but will take fruit and also visit nectar feeders.
Nesting:
They nest in cavities in dead trees or large cacti. The average clutch size consists of two eggs, incubated by both sexes.
The young fledge after 31-33 days.
Call / Song:
They make rattling krrrrrl calls and both sexes drum on territory.
Member of the Picidae Family: Woodpeckers … Sapsuckers … Flickers
