Campo Flicker

Fascinating facts about the Campo Flicker

• At just 30 cm (12 in) long and weighing about 150 g (5.3 oz), the campo flicker is the size of a small laptop. Males sport a bright red stripe on the side of their face while females wear a black one, a subtle but reliable sex clue. Their plumage is a blend of brown and white bars on the back, a white rump edged with thin dark bars, and a black-topped tail with pale bars on the outer feathers. Juveniles look like faded adults, making them hard to spot. This compact build lets them dart through savannas and grasslands, hunting insects on the ground where larger woodpeckers cannot go.
• Campo flickers can be found from as low as 80 m (260 ft) up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft), thriving in habitats ranging from open savanna to heavily grazed pasture. Their range stretches across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, and Uruguay, with two subspecies meeting and interbreeding in Paraguay and southern Brazil. The nominate form lives in disjunct pockets from southern Suriname to central Brazil, while C. c. campestroides occupies southern Brazil down to northeastern Argentina.
• When hunting, campo flickers act like ground-based woodpeckers, pecking, digging, and gleaning for insects in ant and termite mounds, soil, stones, and dead wood. They feed almost entirely on ants and termites, taking adults, larvae, and pupae, while fruit makes up only a tiny fraction of their diet. Observers have recorded groups of up to seven birds foraging together.
• Breeding peaks in the dry months of August and September in Argentina and central Brazil. Both sexes excavate nest cavities in termite mounds, earthen banks, trees, or fence posts. Clutches usually contain four or five eggs, and while the species is mainly monogamous, cooperative groups sometimes see auxiliary females laying eggs in the same nest.
• At just 30 cm (12 in) long and weighing about 150 g (5.3 oz), the campo flicker is a compact woodpecker that packs a punch. Both sexes look alike except for a bold facial stripe, males wear a vivid red malar line while females sport a stark black one.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Campo Flicker

The Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) is a striking member of the woodpecker family, characterized by its vibrant plumage adorned with a blend of tawny brown and brilliant yellow. Its most distinctive feature is the black crescent shape that adorns its throat, contrasting sharply with the warm tones of its body. This medium-sized bird typically inhabits the open grasslands and savannas of South America, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The Campo Flicker is often spotted perched on fence posts or foraging on the ground, where it employs its long, pointed bill to excavate insects and larvae hidden within the soil. This behavior not only highlights its adaptability to varied habitats but also contributes to the health of the ecosystem by aerating the ground and controlling pest populations. In addition to its striking appearance, the Campo Flicker is known for its fascinating courtship displays, which include elaborate drumming and vocalizations that resonate through its habitat. These birds are primarily insectivorous, but they also supplement their diet with seeds and fruit, showcasing their versatility as foragers. One particularly surprising trait is their ability to mimic the calls of other birds, a skill that enhances their communication and social interactions. As they flit through their expansive territories, the Campo Flicker embodies the spirit of the grasslands, a vibrant testament to the intricacies of avian life in open environments, where every call and movement seems to echo the rhythm of nature's pulse.

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