This bird hammers the forest with a splash of scarlet.
The Crimson-bellied Woodpecker is impossible to ignore. Its belly blazes a deep crimson red, standing out boldly against its black upperparts and white facial stripes. It’s a bird that looks like it carries fire in its feathers.
Found in the humid forests of South America — from Venezuela and Colombia down into Bolivia — this woodpecker spends its days scaling tree trunks, chiseling into bark with powerful blows in search of insects and sap. The rhythmic drumming echoes through the canopy like a secret signal of the forest.
Despite its vivid colors, it can be surprisingly hard to spot, blending into the dark shadows of towering trees. But when the light catches its belly, it glows like a ruby in the green gloom.
It nests in tree cavities carved by its own beak, where both parents share the work of raising the chicks. Fiercely territorial, it defends its patch of forest with loud calls and flashing wings.
The Crimson-bellied Woodpecker is proof that even among the giants of the rainforest, there’s always room for a bit of fire and flair.