The rufous-headed woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.
Region
Western Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland rainforest of Bolivia, Brazil (western Amazon), Ecuador, and Peru, with a strong association to extensive Guadua bamboo thickets. Favors bamboo-dominated terra firme and edges of floodplain forests, as well as secondary growth where bamboo proliferates. Often uses midstory strata, moving along bamboo clumps and adjacent trees. It can be scarce away from bamboo stands and is patchy across its wide range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This bamboo-associated woodpecker is patchy but locally fairly common where extensive Guadua bamboo stands occur in the western Amazon. It often forages quietly in pairs or small family groups, spending long periods probing bamboo culms for hidden prey. Its conspicuous rufous head and shaggy crest make it one of the most distinctive Celeus woodpeckers.
Male in Acre, Brazil
Temperament
quiet and deliberate
Flight Pattern
undulating with short, direct bursts
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Pairs excavate nest cavities in soft or dead wood, often near bamboo stands. Breeding timing varies locally in the Amazon, with both parents participating in nesting duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of sharp, nasal notes and squeals, often given from within bamboo thickets. Drumming is brief and resonant, frequently performed on hollow bamboo culms.
