Piculus litae
The Lita Woodpecker (Piculus litae) is a striking, medium-small member of the green woodpecker lineage, measuring around 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighing 45-50 grams. Its overall plumage is a vibrant olive-green, with distinctive yellow-olive underparts that often exhibit faint, dusky barring, particularly on the flanks. Key field marks include its bright, pale yellow iris and a bold, contrasting facial pattern. Males sport a full red crown and nape, complemented by a prominent red malar...
Found primarily in humid lowland and foothill forests, forest borders, and advanced secondary growth. Typically inhabits elevations from sea level up to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet).
Feeds predominantly on insects, particularly ants and their larvae, as well as beetles. Forages primarily by gleaning and probing surfaces.
The Lita Woodpecker is a diurnal species, spending its days actively foraging in the mid-canopy and subcanopy layers of humid forests. Unlike larger, more powerful woodpeckers, it employs a more delicate foraging strategy, often gleaning and probing for insects on smaller branches, vines, and the...
The Lita Woodpecker exhibits a remarkably restricted geographic distribution, found exclusively along the Pacific slope of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Its breeding range encompasses a narrow, humid strip within the Chocó bioregion, extending from the Nariño Department in southweste...
Least Concern
- Despite being a woodpecker, the Lita Woodpecker focuses more on probing and gleaning than heavy drilling, often favoring smaller branches and vines. - Its bright yellow eye is a striking and distinctive feature that aids in identification. - The "litae" in its scientific name refers to Lita, a ...