Black-bodied Woodpecker Dryocopus schulzii Scientific name definitions

The Black-bodied Woodpecker is currently considered to be Near Threatened due to large-scale agricultural expansion across much of the species’ range. It is restricted to the xeric woodland of the central and southern Chaco and subtropical forest in the Andean foothills to 1500 m of southern Bolivia, western Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The species appears to have always been rare, but has declined over much of its former range in Argentina. The bird’s plumage is typical of the genus Dryocopus; the large crest is red, as is the malar region, while the rest of the plumage is black, apart from the broad white neck stripe, and some individuals have a white line over the scapulars. The Black-bodied Woodpecker is usually observed singly, or in pairs.

29–30 cm. Male has yellowish-buff nasal tufts, bright red forehead to nape and long crest , sometimes some white feather bases showing through, grey ear-coverts often spotted white, usually very thin white super­cilium behind eye (more or less invisible in field), white stripe from lores back through ear-coverts expanding just before nape, continuing down neck side; red malar stripe becoming black at rear, joining with black of breast; white to greyish-white chin and upper throat occasionally with very fine brown to blackish streaks (streaks rarely visible); hindneck and entire upperparts black, scapulars all black (most of S population) or with white on outer webs meeting white of neckstripe (most of N population, some S birds), or with partial white forming broken line (a few throughout range); black wings, white at bases of flight-feathers, sometimes whitish area at margin of carpal region; uppertail black, white shafts, sometimes white feather tips when fresh; black to brownish-black below, often very narrow obscure yellowish barring on lower flanks and belly (rarely, barring reaching upper flanks, even across entire belly); underwing blackish, axillaries and coverts whitish, primary coverts with irregular large black patch, variable, patch can be almost absent; in worn plumage, black areas browner, pale or dark feather bases more obvious on head and other areas; long bill straight, slightly chisel-tipped, broad across nostrils, pale ivory-white, darker culmen and base; iris deep brown to red-brown, orbital skin grey to blackish; legs dark grey. Female has slightly shorter bill than male, malar lacking red, lower forehead blackish, sometimes white specks in forecrown, but red often extends well down forehead. Juvenile duller and browner than adult, more flank barring, forecrown often with white spots, head pattern as respective adult.

• Lineated x Black-bodied Woodpecker (hybrid) Dryocopus lineatus x schulzii

S Bolivia (Santa Cruz, Tarija), C Paraguay and S to NC Argentina (S to Córdoba and San Luis).

Xeric woodland and savanna of the Chaco with Lithrea, Celtis, acacias, carob (Prosopis) and cacti, and transitional habitats to mesic montane forest with alder (Alnus) and Tipuana. More humid Chaco areas possibly of marginal importance. Occurs up to 1500 m in foothills of Andes, in EC Bolivia and NW Argentina.

Resident.

Diet not described. Forages singly or in pairs, occasionally in family groups of 5–6 birds, apparently on trunks and main limbs. Techniques include pecking, hammering and probing.

Common call a loud “wic wic wic wic wic”, slower and generally shorter than that of H. lineatus; harsh rattle, “ti-chrr”, heard much less frequently; descending “kirrrrrr” repeated when disturbed near nest. Drums like H. lineatus, possibly slightly shorter rolls.

Oct–Dec, possibly Mar. Nest-hole built in dead tree or utility pole; one in Argentina (Córdoba), in Dec, was c. 4 m above ground in dead limb of Schinopsis haenkeana, entrance hole 8 cm wide and 6 cm high, cavity depth c. 40 cm, contained 2 well-grown chicks. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Generally rare. Has declined in many areas, and seems to have been reduced to two main populations, one in Argentine provinces of Córdoba and San Luis, the other in C Paraguayan Chaco. Apparently few survive elsewhere, where expansion of agriculture and cattle-raising has resulted in extensive clearance of woodland, and the planting of exotic trees. Details of this woodpecker’s habitat preferences are not yet fully understood; further research required.