The spot-breasted woodpecker or spot-breasted flicker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Panama and every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Region
Panama and most of tropical South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from Panama southward through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and much of Amazonian and northern South America, absent from the southern cone. Prefers open woodlands, forest edges, gallery forests, second growth, savannas, and agricultural mosaics. Often seen near clearings, along rivers, and in lightly wooded pastures. Generally avoids the densest interior rainforest but benefits from patchy, semi-open conditions.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the spot-breasted flicker, this woodpecker is a largely non-migratory species that thrives in open and semi-open habitats. It often forages on or near the ground for ants and termites more than many other woodpeckers. The species adapts well to human-altered landscapes such as pastures and plantations. Males typically show a red-tinged malar (mustache) stripe, a key field mark for sexing.
Female C. p. guttatus at Sacha Lodge, Ecuador
Temperament
alert and wary, often confiding at forest edges
Flight Pattern
undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or family groups; may join mixed-species flocks at edges. Excavates nest cavities in trees or large stumps; both sexes participate in excavation and incubation. Territorial drumming and displays occur near nest sites.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of clear, ringing notes and sharp kek or wick calls, often in bursts. Also produces rattling vocalizations and occasional drumming, though vocal calls are more frequently heard.
