Colaptes pitius
The Chilean Flicker (Colaptes pitius) is a striking medium-sized woodpecker endemic to southern South America, measuring 30-34 cm (12-13.5 in) in length and weighing between 100-160 grams. Its plumage features dark brown to blackish upperparts heavily barred with pale buff or whitish, contrasting with creamy white to yellowish underparts marked by dense black barring and spotting. A distinctive field mark is its prominent white rump, easily seen during flight, setting it apart from other flic...
Found in a variety of open woodlands, scrublands, semi-arid habitats, parks, and gardens, from sea level up to approximately 2000 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, beetle larvae, and other ground-dwelling insects, supplemented with various berries and fruits.
This flicker spends a remarkable amount of its daily activity on the ground, where it engages in its primary foraging technique of probing for insects; it walks and hops rather than shuffles. At night, individuals typically roost alone in tree cavities, which they often excavate themselves. Chile...
The Chilean Flicker is a resident species distributed across southern South America, primarily within Chile and Argentina. In Chile, its range extends from the Coquimbo Region south to the Aysén Region, encompassing a significant portion of the country's central and southern territories. Across t...
Least Concern
- The species' common name, "Pítío" in Spanish, is an onomatopoeia derived directly from its distinctive two-note call. - It is one of the most terrestrial woodpecker species in the world, spending up to 80% of its foraging time on the ground. - Unlike its Northern Flicker cousins, the Chilean Fl...