Tuesday 18 June
Helmeted woodpecker (Dryocopus galeatus)
VULNERABLEHelmeted woodpecker fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Helmeted woodpecker description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Dryocopus (1) |
A brilliant red crest that sweeps from the crown to the nape gives the helmeted woodpecker its name (2) (3). The face of this elusive bird is mostly cinnamon, except for the pale red malar patch of the male (2). While the lower back, wings and tail are black, the rump is white, and the underparts are pale cream with conspicuous blackish bars (2) (3). In common with all woodpeckers, the helmeted woodpecker has strong leg muscles, two forward and two backward pointing toes, and stiffened tail feathers that together enable it to hold itself upright on tree trunks (4).
- Size
- Length: 28 cm (2)
More »
Top
Related species
Helmeted woodpecker biology
Very little has been reported on the biology of the helmeted woodpecker, but it is known to forage primarily in the middle storey and nest from September through to October (2).
Like all woodpeckers, insects probably form a large component of the helmeted woodpecker’s diet (3) (4). The highly extendable and slightly barbed tongue of the woodpecker is coated with a sticky secretion that aids in catching insect prey (4).
TopHelmeted woodpecker range
The helmeted woodpecker is restricted to southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and northern Argentina (2).
More »
Top
Species with a similar range
Helmeted woodpecker habitat
Mainly found in primary and mature, selectively logged forest, but also occurs in small degraded patches near to larger tracts of forest (2).
More »
Top
Species found in a similar habitat
Helmeted woodpecker status
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Helmeted woodpecker threats
The helmeted woodpecker is believed to have undergone a dramatic population decline due to deforestation and the fragmentation of suitable habitat (2). Indeed there were long periods from the 1950s to the 1980s, when sightings of this species were few and far between (3). Fortunately, recent field studies indicate that the helmeted woodpecker might not be as rare as previously thought. Nonetheless, ongoing habitat loss and competition for resources with other more abundant woodpecker species, which may be more tolerant of disturbance, remains a cause for concern (2)
TopHelmeted woodpecker conservation
The helmeted woodpecker is protected by Brazilian law, and occurs within numerous protected areas throughout its range, with Iguazú National Park in Argentina, Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, and San Rafael National Park and Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve in Paraguay, all likely to support large populations. To clarify the distribution and conservation status of this species, the aim is to conduct thorough population surveys at existing and historical localities. In addition, there are hopes that areas of suitable habitat that receive protection will be increased (2).
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Find out more
For further information on the conservation of birds in Paraguay see:
- Guyra Paraguay:
www.guyra.org.py
For more information on this and other bird species please see:
- BirdLife International:
http://www.birdlife.org
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTopGlossary
- Malar
- Of or pertaining to the region of the cheek bone or malar bone.
- Primary
- Refers to forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.
References
- IUCN Red List (December, 2008)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/ - BirdLife International (April, 2009)
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=702&m=0 - Marshall Cavendish Corporation. (2001) Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World. Marshall Cavendish Corporation, New York.
- Burnie, D. (2001) Animal. Dorling Kindersley, London.
More »Related species
Sign up to our newsletter
Get the latest wild news direct to your inbox.
Get involved
ARKive relies on its media donors to donate photos and videos. Can you help? There are plenty of other ways you can get involved too!
Saturday 15 June
Saturday 15 June
X
Close
Close
Image credit
Female helmeted woodpecker
© Brad Schram
Brad Schram
Arroyo Grande
California
United States of America
gonebrdn@lightspeed.net
http://flickr.com/photos/chaparralbrad/
X
Close
Close
Link to this photo
Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.
Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.
Read more about
X
Close
Close
MyARKive
MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.
X
Close
Close
Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials
Copyright in this website and materials contained on this website (Material) belongs to Wildscreen or its licensors.
Visitors to this website (End Users) are entitled to:
- view the contents of, and Material on, the website;
- download and retain copies of the Material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use;
- teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the Material in their educational material (including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the Material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the End User.
End Users shall not copy or otherwise extract, alter or manipulate Material other than as permitted in these Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials.
Additional use of flagged material
Green flagged material 
Certain Material on this website (Licence 4 Material) displays a green flag next to the Material and is available for not-for-profit conservation or educational use. This material may be used by End Users, who are individuals or organisations that are in our opinion not-for-profit, for their not-for-profit conservation or not-for-profit educational purposes. Low resolution, watermarked images may be copied from this website by such End Users for such purposes. If you require high resolution or non-watermarked versions of the Material, please contact Wildscreen with details of your proposed use.
Creative commons material
Certain Material on this website has been licensed to Wildscreen under a Creative Commons Licence. These images are clearly marked with the Creative Commons buttons and may be used by End Users only in the way allowed by the specific Creative Commons Licence under which they have been submitted. Please see http://creativecommons.org for details.
Any other use
Please contact the copyright owners directly (copyright and contact details are shown for each media item) to negotiate terms and conditions for any use of Material other than those expressly permitted above. Please note that many of the contributors to ARKive are commercial operators and may request a fee for such use.
Save as permitted above, no person or organisation is permitted to incorporate any copyright material from this website into any other work or publication in any format (this includes but is not limited to: websites, Apps, CDs, DVDs, intranets, extranets, signage, digital communications or on printed materials for external or other distribution). Use of the Material for promotional, administrative or for-profit purposes is not permitted.