Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

How to find it

Search forest edges and watch for movement, as the bird is quiet. Go early in the morning, bring binoculars, and consider a local guide. Although it forages in the middle and upper levels, it comes down lower along forest edges, so edges give the best chance of a clear view. It favours dense foliage even there, so be ready for partial views through leaves. Where water levels change through the seasons, the odds can improve along accessible areas.

How to recognise it

Look for a medium-sized woodpecker, about 21 to 25 cm long and 80 to 105 g. Across its range it shows these marks:

Bright chestnut plumage overall.

A pointed, paler brown crest.

Black V or U shaped scaling on the back and underparts.

A pale ivory-yellow bill.

Males show a red patch from the bill to behind the eye, like a moustache. Females have no red on the face, which is the simplest way to tell the sexes apart. The chestnut colour blends with bark, so the bird is easy to miss despite its size.

What it sounds like

Recording: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0, source, read 4 Nov 2026.

Behaviour and diet

This is a quiet feeder that probes bark for ants and beetle larvae. It moves steadily along trunks and is usually alone or in pairs. It often feeds fairly low in the middle layer of the forest, though it is also described as working the middle and upper levels, which makes it hard to notice.

A male in display lifts and shows its tail and turns its neck to show off its colour, and males are said to gather in groups of three to five.

Where it lives

In Costa Rica it lives in the lowlands of the Caribbean side, from sea level up to about 750 m. Across its range it lives mainly in lowland rainforest and forest edge on the Caribbean slope, and it likes Heliconia thickets and secondary forest. In one lowland area it is described as a hard-to-spot bird of forest edges and wetland edges, where flooded forest, wetland edges and regrowth make a suitable mix.

When to see it

It is a year-round resident across its range, so it is not seasonal. Breeding in Costa Rica is thought to run from February to May, and possibly to July.

Similar birds

The Cinnamon Woodpecker overlaps with it in Costa Rica and looks similar. Cinnamon has much bolder black marks on yellowish underparts, which is the key difference to check.

Names and lore in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Spanish name is Carpintero Castaño. A variant spelling, Carpintero cataño, is also listed for Costa Rica.

Status and conservation

The AOCR lists it as a resident (R), and the IUCN rates it Least Concern, though the population is believed to be declining.

Photography tips

Edges give the best chance for a clear view, because the bird comes down to lower levels there. Expect it to hide behind leaves and be ready for partial views. Early mornings and patience help, and knowing its calls often leads you to it.