Lineated Woodpecker

The Lineated Woodpecker is a striking, large woodpecker with bold black and white plumage. Its most distinctive features include a bright red crest, white stripes on the face and neck, and a long, chisel-like bill.

Males have a red malar stripe (mustache) and a fully red crest, while females lack the malar stripe and have a black forehead. Both sexes display black wings with white barring and a white line down the back.

The Lineated Woodpecker has a loud, far-carrying call often described as a series of ringing 'wik-wik-wik' or 'kweek-kweek-kweek' notes.

Their drumming is powerful and resonant, consisting of rapid bursts that can last several seconds. During territorial displays, they may produce a softer, wicka-wicka-wicka sound.

• Listen for their loud, resonant drumming on trees
• Look for their distinctive black and white plumage with red crest in forested areas
• Observe dead trees or snags, where they often forage
• Watch for their undulating flight pattern between trees

Lineated Woodpeckers primarily feed on wood-boring insects, especially beetle larvae and ants. They use their strong bills to excavate deep into tree trunks and branches to extract prey.

Their diet also includes fruits, nuts, and occasionally small vertebrates, demonstrating their adaptability as foragers.

Breeding pairs of Lineated Woodpeckers typically form long-term bonds. The breeding season varies across their range but often coincides with the dry season in tropical areas. Both males and females participate in nest excavation, creating large cavities in dead trees or snags.

Females usually lay 2-3 white eggs in the nest cavity. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 14-16 days. The altricial chicks are born naked and blind, requiring extensive parental care.

Both parents feed and care for the nestlings, which fledge after approximately 28-30 days. The young may remain with their parents for several weeks after fledging, learning essential foraging skills.

Lineated Woodpeckers are often seen foraging on tree trunks and large branches, using their powerful bills to excavate insects. They are typically found in pairs, maintaining year-round territories.

These woodpeckers are known for their loud drumming on trees, which serves as both a territorial signal and a means of communication.

The Lineated Woodpecker is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, like many forest-dwelling species, it faces threats from habitat loss due to deforestation in parts of its range.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving large tracts of mature forest, which are crucial for this species' survival.