Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
West Indian Woodpecker
Melanerpes superciliaris
West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of North America.
The West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) is a member of the Picidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 77.3 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 Melanerpes
- Species superciliaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 77.3 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 West Indian 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 West Indian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) belongs to the Picidae family of the order Piciformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Bahamas, Cuba and Cayman Is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.3 g, with a wing length of about 14.2 cm and a tail of around 10.4 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 114,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the West Indian Woodpecker?
The West Indian Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.3 g.
Where does the West Indian Woodpecker live?
The West Indian Woodpecker is found across North America with a range covering NA Bahamas, Cuba and Cayman Is, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the West Indian Woodpecker belong to?
The West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the West Indian Woodpecker eat?
The West Indian Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the West Indian Woodpecker migrate?
The West Indian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the West Indian 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 West Indian Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the West Indian Woodpecker — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the West Indian Woodpecker's range?
The West Indian Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 114,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Picidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Woodpeckers & Toucans
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
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.