Celeus lugubris
The Pale-crested Woodpecker (Celeus lugubris) is a captivating medium-sized woodpecker, measuring 23-28 cm (9-11 inches) in length and weighing around 92-120 grams. Its most striking feature is its overall golden-rufous to rufous-chestnut plumage, which is notably paler on the underparts, contrasting with a distinctly pale, often creamy or yellowish, shaggy crest that gives the species its common name. Some subspecies exhibit fine darker barring on the wings and tail. A key field mark for ide...
Found in a variety of open and semi-open woodland habitats, including gallery forests, Chaco woodlands, savannas with scattered trees, and forest edges, typically at low to moderate elevations up to 1000 meters.
Feeds primarily on insects, with a strong specialization on ants and termites and their larvae, which it extracts from dead wood; it occasionally supplements its diet with other insects and some fruits.
The Pale-crested Woodpecker is a diurnal species, typically seen singly or in pairs, foraging actively throughout the day. It employs a specialized foraging strategy, primarily excavating into dead wood, tree trunks, and large branches, often targeting active ant and termite nests with its robust...
The Pale-crested Woodpecker is a resident species found across a broad swath of south-central South America. Its distribution extends from eastern Bolivia, encompassing significant portions of Paraguay, through the western and central states of Brazil (including Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, a...
Least Concern
- The male Pale-crested Woodpecker sports a vibrant red 'mustache' (malar stripe) that is entirely absent in the female, making sexual identification straightforward. - This species is a true 'ant-and-termite specialist,' often found methodically excavating active insect nests within dead wood. -...