Melanerpes portoricensis (Daudin, 1803)

Scientific Naming

The Puerto Rican woodpecker, scientific name Melanerpes portoricensis (Daudin, 1803), has a black body with bright red throat and breast.

Plumage Pattern

A white patch stretches across its head from eye to eye, and its flanks and lower body are colored light tangerine.

Sexual Dimorphism

Like most bird species, the Puerto Rican woodpecker exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males have brighter colored throats and breasts than females, and females are generally duller in overall coloration.

Morphometric Differences Between Sexes

The sexes have an approximately 18% difference in bill length, and males are slightly larger than females.

Size and Weight

This species has an average weight of 56.0 grams, and its body length ranges from 23 to 27 centimeters.

Current Distribution and Habitat

The Puerto Rican woodpecker is a common, widely distributed species native to Puerto Rico, where it lives mainly in forests, coffee plantations, mangroves, palm groves, parks, and gardens.

Historical Range

In addition to its current range in Puerto Rico, the species once inhabited the island of St. Croix.

Pleistocene Range Expansion

During the Pleistocene epoch, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, St. Croix, and the other Virgin Islands formed a single landmass, and researchers believe the species extended its range to St. Croix and Vieques at that time.