Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola)

Order: Piciformes  | Family: Picidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

andean_flicker
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Cusco, Peru

andean_flicker
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Cusco, Peru

andean_flicker
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Andes of Lima, Peru

andean_flicker
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Northern, Peru

Identification & Behavior: ~30 cm (12 in). The Andean Flicker has barred upperparts and gray top of the head and nape.  The rest of the body is yellowish-buff. The breast is either spotted or barred depending on the subspecies. Both sexes have gray malar stripes, but only the male has red at the end in all forms. Males of the subspecies puna have red in the back of the neck. No other woodpecker occurs in the treeless Puna inhabited by the Andean Flicker. It is often seen foraging on the ground.

Status: The Andean Flicker is common in the high Andes where it is known to range at elevations between 2700-4500 m. It also occurs in Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Carpintero Andino.

Sub-species: Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola cinereicapillus), Reichenbach 1854. S Ecuador (SE Loja) and N Peru (Piura, Amazonas).
(C. r. puna), Cabanis 1883. C & S Peru.

Meaning of Name: Colaptes: Gr. kolaptë, kolaptö = beak-shaped like a chisel, peck. rupicola: L. rupes= a rock, cola= dweller, inhabitant.

See more of the Family Picidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
andean_flickerVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.