Cream-backed woodpecker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cream-backed woodpecker
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Picidae
Genus:	Campephilus
Species:	C. leucopogon
Binomial name
Campephilus leucopogon (Valenciennes, 1826)
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The cream-backed woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon) is a cool bird that belongs to the woodpecker family. It's known for its unique look, especially the creamy color on its back. You can find this woodpecker in South America, living in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

About This Woodpecker

The cream-backed woodpecker has a scientific name, Campephilus leucopogon. It's part of a group of woodpeckers called Campephilus. This bird is special because it's the only species of its kind, meaning it's "monotypic."

What Does It Look Like?

The cream-backed woodpecker is about 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) long. It weighs around 203 to 281 g (7.2 to 9.9 oz), which is like a small can of soda.

Male woodpeckers have a bright red head, crest, and neck. They also have a tiny black and white spot near their ear. Female woodpeckers have a longer crest. They have a creamy stripe from their beak to their ear. This stripe has black above it, around the eye, and along the front of the crest. There's also a thin black line below the creamy stripe. The rest of their head is red, and their neck is black.

Both male and female adults are mostly black below their neck. They have a whitish upper back with light cinnamon-colored feather tips. Their bill is long and ivory-colored, like a chisel. Their eyes are pale yellow, and their legs are gray. Young woodpeckers look similar to adults but have less red, which is more orange.

Where Do They Live?

You can find the cream-backed woodpecker in parts of South America. This includes north-central Bolivia and western Paraguay. They also live east and south into northern Argentina, northern Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil.

These woodpeckers like open areas, especially dry places called the Gran Chaco. They live in savannas, woodlands, and even pastures with groups of trees. They can be found at elevations up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) high.

How Do They Behave?

Staying in One Place

The cream-backed woodpecker stays in the same area all year long. It does not migrate to other places.

What Do They Eat?

This woodpecker mainly eats beetle larvae. It finds its food mostly in tall trees. Sometimes, it will look for food on fallen logs. It uses its strong beak to hammer into trees. This helps it find and pull out its prey. It usually forages alone, except when it's time to breed.

Making a Home

The cream-backed woodpecker's breeding season starts in September. It is busiest in October and November. It digs a nest hole inside a tree or a palm. These nests are usually 6 to 8 m (20 to 25 ft) above the ground. Both parents help feed the baby birds.

Sounds They Make

The cream-backed woodpecker makes a call that sounds like "pi-ow" or "kwee-yaw." Sometimes, they repeat this call. When a male and female are together, they make "whirring notes." They also make quiet "ahem" sounds and soft, squeaky chattering calls. Their drumming sound is a quick double tap.

Is It Endangered?

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the cream-backed woodpecker is of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently endangered. It lives across a large area. Even though we don't know the exact number of these birds, their population seems to be stable. There are no big threats to them right now.