Birds Active during the day

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A jewel of the Andean cloud forests, the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker stands out with its vivid red back and golden-yellow throat. It is one of the most striking high-altitude birds you can discover in South America.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 22–28 cm (8.7–11 in); Weight: 74–106 g (2.6–3.7 oz)

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Colors

Crimson-red back and wings, golden-yellow throat, black crown, and scaly black-and-white underparts. Males have a red malar (mustache) stripe; females have a black one.

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Key Features

Vibrant crimson-red back and mantle
Bright golden-yellow throat and sides of neck
Barred black-and-white underparts
Black crown and nape

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-5 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, beetles, and larvae; also consumes berries and small fruits from montane shrubs.

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Habitat Humid montane forests, cloud forests, elfin forests, and forest edges at high elevations.

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Where Does the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Live?

This stunning woodpecker is a native specialist of the South American Andes. Its range forms a long, narrow corridor through the high-altitude forests of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia. Within this mountainous region, it is exclusively found in the moist, temperate zones of the cloud forest, rarely descending into the tropical lowlands.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

5 Countries

550K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CO Colombia

412

EC Ecuador

345

PE Peru

58

VE Venezuela

Marginal

BO Bolivia

Marginal

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

1,500 m – 3,700 m

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Crimson-mantled Woodpecker is a social and industrious species of the high Andes. Often seen in pairs or family groups, these birds are much more conspicuous than many of their forest-dwelling relatives. They are known to participate in mixed-species foraging flocks, moving through the canopy alongside tanagers and woodcreepers, though they often maintain their own pace as they spiral up mossy trunks in search of prey.

While they are skilled climbers, this species also displays the characteristic Colaptes trait of ground foraging. They can frequently be found hopping along the forest floor or at the edges of clearings, probing for ants. They communicate with loud, metallic calls and rhythmic drumming that can echo through the mist of the cloud forests they call home.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker on camera, focus on the transition zones where primary cloud forest meets open gardens or clearings. Since these birds are frequent trunk-climbers, mount your camera roughly 5 to 6 feet high on a tree with heavy moss or epiphyte growth. Angle the lens slightly downward to catch them if they decide to forage at the base of the tree or on the ground for ants.

While they may not visit standard seed feeders, you can attract them with suet blocks or by planting native fruiting trees like Schefflera. If you are setting up a trail camera, look for 'snags'—standing dead trees—with visible drill holes or fresh wood chips at the base. These are favorite foraging sites and provide the best opportunity for a high-quality capture during the mid-morning hours when activity peaks.

Because their Andean habitat is often shrouded in mist and high humidity, ensure your camera has a high IP weatherproofing rating. Use a camera with a fast trigger speed (under 0.5 seconds) to catch their quick, jerky movements. If your camera allows for video, set short 10-15 second bursts to capture their unique spiraling climbing behavior and vocalizations.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Crimson-mantled Woodpecker.

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Features an olive-green back and wings instead of the bright crimson-red found on the Crimson-mantled.

Red-stained Woodpecker

Much smaller in size and found at lower elevations; lacks the solid golden-yellow throat.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker are most active during the daylight hours, with peak foraging occurring between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, and a secondary burst of activity in the late afternoon before dusk.

If you live at high elevations in the Andes, you can attract Crimson-mantled Woodpecker by maintaining native trees, leaving dead wood or 'snags' for foraging, and offering suet or fruit-based bird food.

Their diet consists mainly of insects like ants and beetle larvae which they find in bark or soil, supplemented by berries and small fruits from Andean shrubs.

They are common in suburban or rural gardens that are located near high-altitude forest edges (above 1,500m), but they are not found in lowland urban environments.

The easiest way to tell them apart is the back color; the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker has a vibrant red back, while the Golden-olive Woodpecker has an olive-green back.

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