Colaptes rivolii
The Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (Colaptes rivolii) is a spectacularly vibrant member of the Picidae family, captivating birders with its brilliant plumage. Averaging 29-34 cm (11-13 inches) in length and weighing between 150-200 grams, this medium-sized flicker is unmistakable with its striking crimson-red mantle and wing coverts, contrasting sharply with a bright golden-yellow rump. Its head is largely black with a distinctive yellow supercilium, while its underparts are white, heavily barred...
Found primarily in humid montane cloud forests, elfin forests, and Polylepis woodlands. It inhabits high-altitude regions, typically between 1,500 and 3,800 meters above sea level.
Primarily myrmecophagous, feeding on ants and their larvae, which they extract from the ground and decaying wood. They supplement their diet with other insects and occasionally fruit.
Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers are diurnal, typically observed singly or in pairs foraging on the forest floor, a characteristic behavior shared with other *Colaptes* flickers. They primarily use their strong bills to probe into soil, leaf litter, and moss for insects, but also glean and excavate fr...
The Crimson-mantled Woodpecker is a resident species found exclusively in the Andes mountains of South America, spanning a wide latitudinal range. Its distribution extends from the Venezuelan Andes (Cordillera de Mérida) south through the Andean ranges of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and into the wes...
Least Concern
- The Crimson-mantled Woodpecker's specific epithet 'rivolii' honors François Victor Masséna, 2nd Duke of Rivoli, a renowned French naturalist. - It is one of the highest-dwelling woodpecker species in the world, regularly found at elevations over 3,000 meters. - Unlike many woodpeckers that clim...