Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Helmeted Woodpecker
Celeus galeatus
Helmeted Woodpecker (Celeus galeatus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Helmeted Woodpecker (Celeus galeatus) is a member of the Picidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 124 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 galeatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 124 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Helmeted 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 Helmeted Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Helmeted Woodpecker (Celeus galeatus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 124 g, with a wing length of about 16.3 cm and a tail of around 10.5 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 184,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Helmeted Woodpecker?
The Helmeted Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 124 g.
Where does the Helmeted Woodpecker live?
The Helmeted Woodpecker is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Helmeted Woodpecker belong to?
The Helmeted Woodpecker (Celeus galeatus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Helmeted Woodpecker eat?
The Helmeted Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Helmeted Woodpecker migrate?
The Helmeted Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Helmeted 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 Helmeted Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Helmeted Woodpecker — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Helmeted Woodpecker's range?
The Helmeted Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 184,000 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.