Photo: Joao Quental / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Kaempfer’s Woodpecker
Celeus obrieni
Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) is a member of the Picidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 114 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Celeus
- Species obrieni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 114 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, part of the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA e Brazil.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 114 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 806,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 114 g.
Where does the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker live?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is found across South America with a range covering SA e Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker belong to?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker eat?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker migrate?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker — including its drumming — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Kaempfer’s Woodpecker's range?
The Kaempfer’s Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 806,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.