The varzea piculet is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Picumninae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Brazil's Amazon basin.
Region
Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in seasonally flooded white-water (várzea) forests, river-edge thickets, and early-successional scrub on river islands. Favors dense understory with Cecropia, bamboo, and vine tangles where it can glean tiny arthropods from slender substrates. Commonly stays low to mid-levels, moving through tangles with short hops. It is tied to the flood pulse, shifting among microhabitats as water levels rise and recede.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny woodpecker specialized for Brazil’s seasonally flooded Amazonian floodplains (várzea), it forages delicately on thin stems and vine tangles rather than hammering large trunks. Males show small yellowish forecrown spots, a helpful field mark among similar piculets. It often joins mixed-species flocks in dense river-edge growth and is easily overlooked due to its quiet habits. Habitat alteration of floodplains poses ongoing pressure on its populations.
Temperament
secretive and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief undulations
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in river-edge thickets. Nests are likely small cavities in soft or decayed stems or thin branches typical of piculets. Territoriality is modest, with subtle contact calls maintaining pair cohesion.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, high-pitched series of quick notes or trills, often given softly from cover. Calls include sharp ‘tsit’ or ‘tsee’ notes and brief rattles; drumming is weak or infrequent compared to larger woodpeckers.
