Colaptes melanochloros
The Green-barred Woodpecker (*Colaptes melanochloros*) is a vibrant and distinctive member of the flicker genus, characterized by its striking olive-green and black plumage. Measuring approximately 26-30 cm (10-12 inches) in length and weighing between 90-150 grams, it displays an olive-green back heavily barred with black, complemented by yellowish-green underparts similarly marked. Key field marks for identification include a green crown, a prominent red nuchal crescent (more pronounced in ...
This adaptable woodpecker thrives in open woodlands, savannas, gallery forests, secondary growth, parks, and gardens, ranging from sea level up to approximately 2000 meters in elevation.
Primarily myrmecophagous, its diet consists predominantly of ants and termites, including their larvae and pupae, extracted from the ground or decaying wood using its elongated, sticky tongue. It also consumes other insects like beetles and occasionally supplements its diet with fruits and berries.
The Green-barred Woodpecker is primarily diurnal, dedicating significant time to foraging. Distinct from many arboreal woodpeckers, it frequently forages on the ground, expertly probing for ants and termites with its specialized long, barbed tongue, often flicking aside leaf litter. It also ascen...
The Green-barred Woodpecker is a widespread resident across much of South America, with its year-round distribution spanning eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, extending southwards to the province of Chubut. While primarily associated with these eastern and centra...
Least Concern
- The Green-barred Woodpecker is one of the few woodpecker species that spends a significant portion of its foraging time on the ground, specializing in hunting ants and termites. - Its scientific genus, *Colaptes*, originates from the Greek word *kolapto*, meaning 'to peck,' directly referencing...