Yellow-fronted woodpecker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yellow-fronted woodpecker
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Picidae
Genus:	Melanerpes
Species:	M. flavifrons
Binomial name
Melanerpes flavifrons (Vieillot, 1818)
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The yellow-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons) is a colorful bird that belongs to the woodpecker family. You can find it in parts of South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. This bird lives in forests and areas where trees are still around. Scientists say it's a "least concern" bird, which means it's not in danger of disappearing.

What Does the Yellow-Fronted Woodpecker Look Like?

This beautiful woodpecker is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. Both male and female birds look quite similar. However, the male has a red cap and the back of its neck is red. The female's cap and the back of her neck are bluish-black.

Colors and Markings

Both male and female woodpeckers have a yellow forehead. Their cheeks, chin, and throat are also yellow. A wide black stripe runs from their beak, through their eye, and back to their neck.

The top part of their body, like their shoulders and upper wings, is mostly black. Their back and rump (the area above the tail) are white. Their tail is black, with some white stripes on the outer feathers.

The chest of this woodpecker is grey or olive green. Its belly is red, and the sides of its body have black and white stripes. Its eyes are blue-black, and the ring around its eye is yellowish or orange. The beak is black, and its legs and feet are olive-brown.

Young Woodpeckers

Young yellow-fronted woodpeckers look a lot like the adults. However, their feathers are not as shiny. They might also be a bit browner. They have less red on their belly and on their head than the adult birds.

Where Do Yellow-Fronted Woodpeckers Live?

The yellow-fronted woodpecker lives in eastern South America. You can find it in eastern and southeastern Brazil. It also lives in eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. These birds live from sea level up to about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) high.

Their Home

This woodpecker does not migrate, meaning it stays in the same area all year. It likes to live in places with some trees. You can find it in forests, especially those along rivers. It also lives in forests that are growing back. They like palm groves, fruit orchards, gardens, and parks. They especially like areas where a few trees are left standing in an open space.

What Do Yellow-Fronted Woodpeckers Eat?

The yellow-fronted woodpecker eats a mix of different foods. Its main diet includes berries and fruits. But it also eats seeds, insects, and insect larvae (young insects).

How They Raise Their Young

Yellow-fronted woodpeckers usually have their babies between January and May. They have been seen feeding fruits to their young ones. Sometimes, they store both insects and fruits to eat later. This species is a "cooperative breeder." This means several birds might nest close together. Some birds, who are not breeding themselves, help to raise the young.

Is the Yellow-Fronted Woodpecker in Danger?

The yellow-fronted woodpecker lives in a very large area. It is also a fairly common bird. We don't know exactly if its population is growing or shrinking. However, there are many of these birds. If their numbers are going down, it's happening very slowly. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a "least concern" species. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.