Red-stained Woodpecker

About the Red-stained Woodpecker

The red-stained woodpecker (Veniliornis affinis) is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The International Ornithological Committee and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World place the red-stained woodpecker in genus Veniliornis. However, starting in 2018, the American Ornithological Society and the Clements taxonomy moved all species of genus Veniliornis into genus Dryobates.

The taxonomic systems agree that the red-stained woodpecker has these four subspecies: V. (or D.) a. orenocensis Berlepsch & Hartert, E.J.O., 1902 V. (or D.) a. hilaris (Cabanis & Heine, 1863) V. (or D.) a. ruficeps (Spix, 1824)

V. (or D.) a. affinis (Swainson, 1821) Subspecies hilaris and ruficeps have at times been treated as separate species. What is now the Choco woodpecker (V. (or D.) chocoensis) was at one time treated as a subspecies of the red-stained woodpecker.

The red-stained woodpecker is about 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 32 to 44 g (1.1 to 1.6 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads... Wikipedia →