Featured Bird.
English name: Blond-crested Woodpecker
Portuguese name: Pica-pau-de-cabeça-amarela
Scientific name: Celeus flavescens
Local subspecies: flavescens
What a bird! This bird is always high on any visitor’s ‘wish-list’ catching the eye with even the most cursory of glances at a field guide. It is no disappointment either when encountered as so many others are in the flesh (or feather maybe). A truly spectacular bird and happily not too difficult to see.
Photo by Frank van der Kallen.
It is usually first located by its distinctive call that, to me at least, is reminiscent of the dramatic music used in the famous shower scene in the Hitchcock movie ‘Psycho’. The exuberant feathering on the head is often referred to as a ‘punk hair-do’ but that is where any resemblance to punks ends, the bird is not at all shabbily dressed, to the contrary it is a dapper bird. The male differs from the female in that it has a red moustachial stripe…
Male bird showing red moustachial: Photo Rafael Fortes.
…which she has not.
Female: Photo Rafael Fortes.
This is predominantly an Atlantic Forest bird but if you are lucky enough to have a garden in or near suitable habitat it can be encourseged to come to feeders, especially if bananas are on offer. This photo was taken at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre’s feeders where this bird has recently become a regular visitor.
Male bird visiting feeders at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre: Photo Elis and Rick Simpson.
Photos on this page; copyright remains with the credited photographer.
