Piculus aurulentus
The Yellow-browed Woodpecker (Piculus aurulentus) is a captivating resident of humid South American forests, instantly recognizable by its striking olive-green plumage, bright yellow supercilium (brow), and a golden-yellow nape that lends the species its 'aurulentus' epithet, meaning golden. Measuring 18-22 cm (7.1-8.7 inches) in length and weighing around 50-60 grams, this medium-sized woodpecker also features finely barred flanks and a yellowish-olive throat and breast. A key identification...
Found primarily in humid tropical and subtropical forests, ranging from lowland Atlantic Forest to montane cloud forests up to 1,800 meters, also inhabiting forest edges and secondary growth.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, especially ants, termites, and their larvae, which it gleans and probes from tree bark, supplemented occasionally by fruit pulp or berries.
The Yellow-browed Woodpecker is a diurnal species, active from dawn to dusk, often roosting in tree cavities. Its foraging strategy involves meticulously gleaning and probing for insects on tree trunks and branches, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks alongside ovenbirds, tanagers, a...
The Yellow-browed Woodpecker is a resident species distributed across a significant portion of eastern South America. Its primary range includes southeastern Brazil, extending from Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais south to Santa Catarina, as well as eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina (Mision...
Least Concern
- The 'aurulentus' in its scientific name directly translates to 'golden,' a nod to its distinctive golden-yellow nape and hindneck. - Unlike many woodpeckers known for their loud drumming, the Yellow-browed Woodpecker is considered a relatively quiet species, often detected by its unique calls r...