The scarlet-backed woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Northern Andes and adjacent western Amazonia
Typical Environment
Occurs in southwestern Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru, chiefly in foothill and montane forests. It favors forest edges, riverine corridors, and secondary growth, and readily uses shade coffee and cacao plantations with tree cover. The species forages from lower trunks to the canopy on both live and dead wood. It is typically local but can be fairly common where suitable habitat persists.
Altitude Range
200–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as Veniliornis callonotus in some checklists, this small woodpecker is named for the vivid scarlet patch running down its back. It is typically quiet for a woodpecker, with soft tapping and short, subdued drums. It often joins mixed-species flocks in foothill forests and frequents edges, secondary growth, and tree-filled plantations.
Temperament
alert and somewhat shy
Flight Pattern
undulating with short, rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs and often associates with mixed-species flocks while foraging. Pairs excavate nest cavities in soft or dead wood and both sexes participate in incubation and feeding young. Territorial drumming is brief and relatively quiet compared to larger woodpeckers.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, including thin pik notes and short rattles. Drumming is a brief, subdued roll rather than a long, resonant sequence.
