Melanerpes herminieri
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker, *Melanerpes herminieri*, is a striking and enigmatic member of the Picidae family, endemic to the Caribbean island group of Guadeloupe. Uniquely among its genus, this medium-sized woodpecker presents an almost entirely glossy black plumage, a distinctive feature that sets it apart from its typically brightly colored *Melanerpes* relatives, such as the Red-bellied or Golden-fronted Woodpeckers. Adults measure approximately 24-28 cm (9.4-11 in) in length and weigh bet...
This woodpecker thrives in moist broadleaf forests, mature secondary growth, and occasionally mangrove fringes or cocoa plantations, ranging from sea level up to 1300 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetle larvae, ants, and termites, but also supplements its diet with fruits, berries, and occasionally tree sap or nectar.
Guadeloupe Woodpeckers are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging, often seen alone or in pairs. Their foraging strategy involves scaling large tree trunks and branches, where they glean insects from the bark surface, probe crevices, and excavate for beetle larvae and other arthropods wit...
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is strictly endemic to the French Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe. Its distribution encompasses both main islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, as well as several smaller satellite islands, wherever suitable forest habitat is present. It is a resident species, non-m...
Least Concern
- The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is the only bird species endemic to the entire Guadeloupe archipelago. - Its striking all-black plumage makes it unique among the 'pied' woodpeckers of the *Melanerpes* genus, which are typically marked with bold black, white, red, and yellow patterns. - This species i...