One of the most distinctive woodpeckers of the Iberá for its unusually white plumage. The back is black with a large white patch. The head, neck, breast and belly are white. Both sexes have a ring of bare yellow skin around the eye; the male is distinguished by the yellow on the breast and nape, absent in the female. The bill is dark gray. It measures 24 to 28 cm. It lives in groups of 5 to 20 individuals in palm groves, tall trees of open woodland and areas with scattered trees in the grasslands of the Iberá.
Behaviour
Gregarious and very noisy. The groups move between tall trees and palms with direct flight and powerful calls. It feeds on fruit, insects and larvae in the bark. It is very conspicuous and sociable. Sometimes several individuals of the group cooperate in incubation and rearing.
How and when to see it
Year round. The boisterous flocks are easy to detect. Very visible in flight for its contrasting black-and-white plumage.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where white woodpecker has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where white woodpecker lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiences with local storytelling and a cultural take on the marshes.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Horseback journeys across a network of refuges in Iberá. Multi-day rides with overnight…★ 5.0 - Jurassic Plant - Night Tour
The only carnivorous-plant garden in Argentina and a pioneer in Latin America. A guided…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Guided hiking. Guided visit to museums, historic sites, chapels and trails of the town…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameWhite Woodpecker
- Scientific nameMelanerpes candidus
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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