Veniliornis kirkii
The Red-rumped Woodpecker (Veniliornis kirkii) is a vibrant and relatively small member of the Picidae family, showcasing a striking palette of olive-green, yellow, and brilliant red. Measuring approximately 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) in length and weighing 30-40 grams, its most distinctive field mark is the vivid red rump, which contrasts sharply with its olive back and yellow-streaked underparts. Males proudly display a completely red crown and nape, while females sport an olive-brown crown stre...
This species thrives in humid tropical and subtropical forests, frequently inhabiting forest edges, secondary growth, and cultivated areas. It is found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2,500 meters in the Andean foothills.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, including beetle larvae and ants, supplemented by spiders and occasionally small fruits or seeds. It forages by pecking, gleaning, and probing on tree bark and smaller branches.
The Red-rumped Woodpecker is a diurnal and highly active species, spending its days diligently foraging and typically roosting in tree cavities at night. It employs a diverse range of foraging strategies, including gleaning insects from bark surfaces, probing into crevices, and chipping away at d...
The Red-rumped Woodpecker boasts a wide and resident distribution across the Neotropics, extending from southern Central America through much of northern South America. Its range encompasses humid lowlands and montane forests from Costa Rica and Panama, south through Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad...
Least Concern
- The "kirkii" in its scientific name likely honors William Kirke, a British consul to Venezuela in the 19th century. - Despite its vivid colors, it can be surprisingly cryptic as it often forages high in the dense canopy. - It is one of the few woodpecker species that regularly joins mixed-speci...