Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Imperial Woodpecker
Campephilus imperialis
Imperial Woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Imperial Woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis) is a member of the Picidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 700 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Campephilus
- Species imperialis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 700 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Imperial Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Imperial Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Imperial Woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA nc, c Mexico.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 700 g, with a wing length of about 30.3 cm and a tail of around 19.8 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Imperial Woodpecker?
The Imperial Woodpecker is a large bird that weighs around 700 g.
Where does the Imperial Woodpecker live?
The Imperial Woodpecker is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA nc, c Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Imperial Woodpecker belong to?
The Imperial Woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Imperial Woodpecker eat?
The Imperial Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Imperial Woodpecker migrate?
The Imperial Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Imperial Woodpecker endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
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.