Celeus flavescens
The Blond-crested Woodpecker, *Celeus flavescens*, is a striking medium-sized woodpecker measuring between 27 and 30 cm (10.6-11.8 inches) in length. Its most distinctive feature is a prominent, shaggy crest that ranges in color from a bright golden-rufous to a paler blond, contrasting sharply with its predominantly black body, particularly the wings and back. The rump and lower belly are typically buffy to whitish, providing additional visual interest. Males are readily identified by a brigh...
Primarily found in a variety of forest types, including humid evergreen forests, secondary growth, gallery forests, and woodlands. It occurs from lowlands up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Exclusively myrmecophagous, its diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites, including their larvae and pupae. Occasionally, it supplements this with small amounts of fruit or berries.
This diurnal woodpecker typically roosts in tree cavities at night, emerging at dawn to forage. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized, primarily targeting ants and termites; it meticulously excavates into arboreal and terrestrial insect nests, as well as rotten wood, using its robust bill a...
The Blond-crested Woodpecker is endemic to southeastern South America, with its primary range spanning eastern and southern Brazil. Its distribution extends south through Paraguay and into northeastern Argentina, specifically in the Misiones and Corrientes provinces, and also reaches east-central...
Least Concern
- The Blond-crested Woodpecker's distinctive "blond" crest can vary in color from a bright golden-yellow to a paler, more straw-colored hue, even within the same subspecies. - Males are easily identified by a prominent red "mustache" (malar stripe) that is entirely absent in females, making sexua...