Photo: Marc Athanase Parfait Œillet Des Murs (1804-1878) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker
Veniliornis callonotus
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) is a member of the Picidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 26.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Veniliornis
- Species callonotus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Colombia to nw Peru.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.5 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 136,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 26.5 g.
Where does the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker live?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Colombia to nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker belong to?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker eat?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker migrate?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker's range?
The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 136,000 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.