Crimson-mantled woodpecker


The crimson-mantled woodpecker is a bird species in the woodpecker family. It was formerly placed in the genus Piculus but moved to the genus Colaptes after mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Its scientific name, rivolii, honors French ornithologist François Victor Masséna, second Duke of Rivoli and third Prince of Essling.
The sex of the species can be determined by the crown and malar. The males carry a dark red malar with a red crown, while the females have both a black malar and crown. Breeding times are largely unknown, with different scientific reports spotting nests from January all the way to November.
Its diet consists of arthropods such as ants, a spider, a millipede, and beetle larvae, along with fruits such as melastomes and rubiacs. Its foraging behavior is to search for prey along moss- and lichen-covered trees, leaf stems, rotting trunks, and on the ground in small clearings.

Song

All subspecies, with the exception of atriceps, have a quiet rapid monotone kee'r'r-ker'r-ke'r'r" call, whereas atriceps has been described as more of a churr... grr'r'r'r'l".

Distribution

It is found in, and native to, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It primarily stays within the elevation 1,800m-3,500m above sea level, but there have been sightings as far down as 700m.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized: