Image via Macaulay Library
West Indian Woodpecker
- Scientific name
- Melanerpes superciliaris
- Family
- Picidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Forest deciduous
- Wing shape
- Broad
- Tail shape
- Pointed
Where it came from
The West Indian Woodpecker, Melanerpes superciliaris, is a species native to the Caribbean, specifically found in Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands. It evolved within the isolated island ecosystems of the West Indies, developing specific physical adaptations such as its characteristic broad wings for maneuverability in dense woodland canopies and a pointed tail that serves as a rigid prop while foraging vertically along tree trunks.
First formally described by zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1827, the species became a subject of significant interest for nineteenth-century ornithologists documenting the unique biodiversity of the Antilles. The bird is distinguished from its continental relatives by its unique facial markings and social structure, and it remains a vital subject for ongoing studies regarding how island-dwelling species adapt to localized environmental pressures and habitat changes.
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Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About West Indian Woodpecker
West Indian Woodpecker is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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