Yucatán Woodpecker
Melanerpes pygmaeus
Silhouette: Jason Dilworth · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyPicidae (Woodpeckers)
- GenusMelanerpes (Melanerpes Woodpeckers)
- SpeciesMelanerpes pygmaeus (Yucatán Woodpecker)
About the Yucatán Woodpecker
The Yucatan woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is sometimes referred to as the red-vented woodpecker. The Yucatan woodpecker is found in Belize and Mexico, and ranges over the entire Yucatán Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
The adult Yucatan woodpecker is 17 cm (6.7 in) in length. Adults are mainly light gray on the face and underparts; they have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings and tail. Adult males have a red cap going from the eye to the nape, whereas the red cap is only in the occipital area in the females. There are yellow feathers around the base of the bill. There may be a yellowish tinge to the belly and a red wash to the vent area.
The plumage of the Yucatan woodpecker is very similar in appearance to that of the golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), which is also found throughout the entire Yucatán Peninsula. It can be very difficult to distinguish between these two species in the field. The golden-fronted woodpecker — which is much more common than the Yucatan woodpecker... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Yucatán Woodpecker in Celestún Biosphere Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Celestún Biosphere Reserve
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Celestún Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Yucatán Woodpecker in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Yucatán Woodpecker sighting in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, based on 393 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Yucatán Woodpecker in Celestún Biosphere Reserve?
May has the highest sighting rate for Yucatán Woodpecker in Celestún Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.