Piculus simplex (Salvin, 1870)

Species Nomenclature

The rufous-winged woodpecker, with the scientific name Piculus simplex (Salvin, 1870), reaches about 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighs 51 to 55 g (1.8 to 1.9 oz).

Sexual Plumage Difference

Males and females share the same plumage pattern everywhere except on the head.

Male Head Plumage

Males have red coloring from the forehead to the hindneck, and very wide red coloring on the malar (cheek); the rest of the face is brownish green.

Female Head Plumage

Females have mostly brownish olive heads, with red coloring only present on the nape and hindneck.

Adult Upperparts

Adult individuals of both sexes have bronze-green upperparts.

Flight Feather Characteristics

Their flight feathers are mostly cinnamon-rufous, with a large amount of dark olive on the feather webs.

Tail Characteristics

Their tail is blackish, with a faint tint of cinnamon-rufous on the outer feathers.

Throat and Upper Breast Plumage

Their throat and upper breast are olive-green; the upper breast has pale buffish yellow spots.

Lower Underparts Plumage

The remaining underparts are pale yellow-buff with dark olive bars.

Soft Part Morphology

Their moderately short beak is blackish with a paler gray mandible; the iris is pale bluish, yellowish, or white, and the legs range from olive to grayish.

Juvenile Overall Plumage

Juvenile rufous-winged woodpeckers are duller, grayer, and greener than adults.

Juvenile Underpart Markings

Their throat and breast have buffish green spots, and the barring on their underparts is uneven.

Juvenile Male Head Plumage

Juvenile males only have red coloring from the rear crown to the hindneck.

Geographic Distribution

This species is found from eastern Honduras through Nicaragua and Costa Rica into western Panama.

Habitat Preferences

It primarily lives in humid forest, but will sometimes move to isolated large trees in adjacent open areas.

Elevational Range

In terms of elevation, it occurs up to 750 m (2,500 ft) on the Caribbean side, and up to 900 m (3,000 ft) on the Pacific side.