Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

The Rotmantelspecht ( Colaptes rivolii ) is a species of bird in the family of woodpeckers ( Picidae ). For a long time the woodpecker was conducted under the genus Piculus rivolii. Recent genetic analyzes demonstrate that is to classify the Rotmantelspecht in the phylogenetic tree of the genus Colaptes. The species has a large distribution area, which includes the South American countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The Rotmantelspecht reaches a body length of about 28 centimeters. The crown and the largest part of the upper side are carmine. On the upper tail-coverts, there are black grid pattern. The tail is black. The primaries have olive-colored edges. On the sides of the head he is yellowish white. Below that is a beard like Ruby strips. The throat is black and has more or less intense white spots. The rest of the underside is golden yellow to mustard. The chest and the sides have black spots. The female, unlike the male beard black stripes and a black crown. The throat is spotted black and white.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the mossy cloud forests and the typical vegetation of the paramo at altitudes 950-3700 m. Here you can find him at a few trees but also in the low bushes of altitudes.

Behavior

In the box you can see this woodpecker mostly alone and in pairs now and again accompanied by mixed flocks of birds. He explores, chops and searches in virtually all Straten, the moss and the trees located at the epiphytes. Every now and then you see him in the search for insects on the ground. Other typical plants that are visited the woodpecker Puya and Espeletia. Usually he only examined the trunks and thick branches of the trees. Rather untypical is the drums and hammers, as you can watch it with other woodpeckers. Nevertheless, this can occur in rare cases.

Subspecies

There are five described subspecies, which differ mainly in their coloring and their area of ​​distribution:

• Colaptes rivolii rivolii ( Boissonneau, 1840) - In the north- western Venezuela in the Sierra de Perijá as well as in the southern Andes to the eastern central Colombia present. Nominate.
• Colaptes rivolii meridae ( Chapman, 1923) - was published under the name hypoxanthus rivolii meridæ. Occurs in the states of Mérida and Táchira in the west of Venezuela. Has the throat just to not stain.
• Colaptes rivolii quindiuna ( Chapman, 1923) - Was under the name hypoxanthus rivolii quindiuna in the same article as C. r. meridæ published. Andes of north-central Colombia. Compensates for C. r. brevirostris is significantly larger.
• Colaptes rivolii brevirostris ( Taczanowski, 1875 ) Original described under hypoxanthus brevirostris. Present in the southwest of Colombia through Ecuador to southern and central Peru. Is slightly smaller than the nominate. The beak is slightly shorter. Throat and rump are black without white spots. In the upper chest area in addition find red spots.
• Colaptes rivolii atriceps ( Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1876) - First described under the name hypoxanthus atriceps. Occurs in southeastern Peru and western and central Bolivia. The male has a black and no red crown.

Another subspecies of Colaptes rivolii zuliensis the Aveledo & Perez in a 1989 article Tres de nuevas subespecies aves ( Picidae, Parulidae, Thraupidae ) de la Sierra de Perija, Venezuela y lista para la hipotetica avifauna Colombiana de Perija in the Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales described applies in general as an invalid taxon.

Naming

Auguste Boissonneau described the first woodpecker under the name Picus Rivolii. He dedicated the scientific taxon François Victor Masséna, Duke of Rivoli second and third Prince of Essling. In his dedication he calls him one of the most avid ornithologist and owner of one of the most important bird collections, mainly of the genus Picus, for which he writes a monograph (Original text: Nous dédions cette belle espèce à Masséna, duc de Rivoli, L' un des ornithologistes les plus zélés et le genre possesseur Picus, dont il une prepare monograph. ).