High in the misty peaks of the Andes Mountains lives a remarkable and little-known bird: the powerful woodpecker. This bird is closely related to the famous and hard-to-find ivory-billed woodpecker. It can grow up to fifteen inches long, making it one of the largest and strongest in its family. Unlike the smaller woodpeckers you might see in your backyard, this species lives in mature, humid forests and cloud forests from Colombia to Peru. Its name reflects its strength, and just seeing its bold feathers and strong beak shows why it deserves that title.

What makes the powerful woodpecker different from others in its group is its size, high-altitude home, and unique markings. While most large woodpeckers live in lower, warmer forests, this one prefers the mountains. It is usually found between 1,524 and 2,591 meters (5,000 and 8,500 feet) above sea level. You can spot it by its mostly black body and a bright white stripe on each side of its neck that meets on its back to form a “V” shape. Its belly is cinnamon-buff with bold black chevrons, not just plain or striped. Because it is bigger and heavier, it grips tree trunks by pointing its legs outward and keeping all four toes forward to stay balanced while pecking.

The powerful woodpecker is also interesting because of its habits. One of the easiest ways to tell males and females apart is by looking at their heads. The adult male has a bright red crest covering his head, while the female’s head is all black. To find food, this bird uses its large, chisel-shaped bill to dig deep into mossy and lichen-covered tree trunks, looking for insects and larvae that other birds cannot reach.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Colombia

2018

Ecuador

2018

Peru

2018

Venezuela

2018