Picid in Focus: Cuban Green Woodpecker

Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus. Endemic to Cuba. Photo of this female (note the black forecrown, males have all of the crown red) taken by Gerard Gorman near Los Palacios in March, 2013.

Picid in Focus: Golden-olive Woodpecker

Male Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus. Note the red malar stripe on the cheek, which females lack. This is a quite widespread species of C and S America. Photo by Gerard Gorman taken in Peru, November 2012.

Picid in Focus: Fine-spotted Woodpecker

Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera punctuligera female. Male has all-red crown and red malar stripe. A typical species of open, wooded savanna in West and Central Africa. Mole NP, Ghana, Gerard Gorman.

Genus: Sasia

This genus hosts three Old World species, one in Africa, two in Asia. Though geographically separated, these species are similar in many aspects of behaviour and share some distinct morphological features such as an obvious orbital ring of flesh and round cross-section of the upper mandible. Yet, some unusual morphological differences also exist: the two Asian species have 10 tail feathers and 3 toes, lacking the first toe, while the African has 8 tail feathers and 4 toes, with first digit thin and reduced. Photo of this African Piculet Sasia africana taken in Ghana, January 2013, by Gerard Gorman. 

Social Woodpeckers

Many species of woodpecker are rather solitary, foraging and roosting alone and only interacting with others of their kind when breeding or when in dispute. However, some are social species, foraging in pairs or family parties, roosting together and even having cooperative breeding systems. Several species of Melanerpes and Colaptes in the Americas, Ground Woodpecker in South Africa and Great Slaty Woodpecker in SE Asia, for example, can all be regarded as social species. This picture shows Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers Melanerpes cruentatus a species that is always seen in noisy, gregarious groups. Pairs nest in close proximity to each other and nestlings are fed by the several members of the group. Photo: Peru, November 2012, Gerard Gorman.    

Picid in Focus: Lafresnaye's Piculet

Lafresnaye's Piculet Picumnus lafresnayi. Photo of this female (note lack of red speckles on the forecrown) taken near Moyobamba, northern Peru, in November 2012 by Gerard Gorman.