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CENTURUS WOODPECKERS

(4 species). Widespread New World group, often in edge and

fairly open habitats with larger trees and hedgerows. Most species have black-and-white barring on back.

Churring and rattled calls can be similar between species. Often merged into genus Melanerpes.

HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER  Centurus (Melanerpes) hoffmannii 18–19.5cm.

Medium-size ‘ladder-backed’ woodpecker of forest and edge, plantations, semi-

open areas with trees, hedgerows, gardens. Distinctive in most of range, with

boldly barred back, white rump showing in flight. Hybridizes with Red-crowned

Woodpecker on cen. Pacific slope, where many birds resemble Hoff­mann’s but

have orange hindneck and belly patch. SOUNDS: Hard chat­tering or churring

rattles, 1–10 secs, at times repeated in pulsating bursts; can suggest a large

kingfisher rattle but more nasal. Rapidly rolled burry cheh’eh’​eh’ehrt, often in

short, fairly rapid-fire series. STATUS: Common on n. Pacific slope and into

Central Valley, locally to 2800m; uncommon to locally fairly common on

Caribbean slope, where spreading with deforestation. (Honduras to Costa Rica.)

RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER  Centurus (Melanerpes) rubricapillus 16.5–

18cm. Fairly small ‘ladder-backed’ woodpecker that replaces Hoffmann’s

Wood­pecker on s. Pacific slope, where found in varied wooded and semi-open

habitats, plantations, mangroves, gardens, hedgerows. Distinctive in most of

range, with boldly barred back, white rump showing in flight. Note zone of

hybridization with Hoffmann’s Woodpecker on cen. Pacific slope, where many

birds intermediate in plumage. SOUNDS: Very similar to Hoffmann’s Wood­

pecker; rattles average higher pitched, rolled burry chihr’ihr’ihr averages higher,

faster-paced. STATUS: Common to fairly common on s. Pacific slope to 1600m,

locally to 2500m; range may be expanding with deforestation. (Costa Rica to n.

S America.)

GOLDEN-NAPED WOODPECKER  Centurus (Melanerpes) chrysauchen 17–

18.5cm. Fairly small woodpecker of humid lowland forest and edge, adjacent

clearings and second growth with taller trees. Feeds low to high on trunks,

branches, and at fruiting and flowering trees. No range overlap with Black-

cheeked Woodpecker, which has red nape, different back pattern. SOUNDS: Rapidly

rolled, slightly nasal chu’huh’huh’uhr or eh’eh’ehr, typically in short, fairly rapid-fire

series; averages higher and faster-paced than similar call of Black-cheeked

Woodpecker. Low, short gravelly rattle, can be repeated steadily. STATUS: Fairly

common to uncommon on s. Pacific slope, to 1500m; declining with de­fores­

tation. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER  Centurus (Melanerpes) pucherani 18–

19cm. Fairly small woodpecker of humid forest and edge, adjacent clearings and

tree-scattered farmland with forest patches. Feeds low to high on trunks, branches,

and at fruiting and flowering trees. No range overlap with Golden-naped

Woodpecker, which has yellow nape, different back pattern. SOUNDS: Slightly

nasal rolled huh’duh’duh, often in short, fairly rapid-fire series. Short churring

rattle, can be repeated steadily. STATUS: Fairly common to common on Caribbean

slope, to 1200m; spills over locally to humid n. Pacific slope foothills. (Mexico to

w. Ecuador.)

hybrid zone