Kaempfer's Woodpecker
Encyclopedia
The Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni), also known as Piauí Woodpecker, is a species of woodpecker
from Brazil
. The type specimen, a female, was collected in the Brazilian state of Piauí
in 1926. No other individuals were collected or seen and the bird was feared extinct, until a male was captured by Advaldo Dias do Prado during mist net
ting in 2006 in the state of Tocantins
. It was known as the Caatinga Woodpecker for some time, but this name is misleading and based on confusion between two places with similar names (see below).
of the Rufous-headed Woodpecker
(Celeus spectabilis), but an evaluation by the South American Classification Committee
in 2003 resulted in it being recognized as a distinct species
. This was based on the differences in habitat, size and plumage, combined with the large distance (more than 3000 kilometers [1850 mi]) between the ranges of the two species.
, the wing-coverts are barred in black and buff and the chest and tail are uniform black. The male has a red malar
and mottling on its crest. For comparison, the Rufous-headed Woodpecker is larger and has extensive black barring on the back and underparts.
(specifically Guadua paniculata) growing in Cerrado
and babassu palm forest; very unlike the humid forest and woodland where the related Rufous-headed Woodpecker is found. There is no evidence to suggest that it occurs in Caatinga
. Rather, the authors who proposed the common name
Caatinga Woodpecker and association it with the caatinga habitat mistook a place in the caatinga called Uruçuí-Una for the type locality Uruçuí, some 180 km. NNW in cerrado habitat.
This has led to Kaempfer's Woodpecker being suggested as a common name instead of Caatinga Woodpecker. The new name honours Emil Kaempfer who collected the type.
, and very locally in adjacent states. Some sites are threatened by the construction of a new section of the Belém-Brasília Highway
, and habitat loss is likely to be the main threat. However, due to the taxonomic
confusion with the Rufous-headed Woodpecker, it has only recently been evaluated by BirdLife International
where it has been given a status of Critically Endangered for the 2007 Red List
. Based on the additional sites discovered since then, it has been suggested that Endangered
may be more appropriate.
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The type specimen, a female, was collected in the Brazilian state of Piauí
Piauí
Piauí is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country.Piauí has the shortest coastline of any of the non-landlocked Brazilian states at 66 km , and the capital, Teresina, is the only state capital in the north east to be located inland...
in 1926. No other individuals were collected or seen and the bird was feared extinct, until a male was captured by Advaldo Dias do Prado during mist net
Mist net
Mist nets are used by ornithologists and bat biologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. Mist nets are typically made of nylon mesh suspended between two poles, resembling an oversized volleyball net. When properly deployed, the nets are virtually invisible...
ting in 2006 in the state of Tocantins
Tocantins (state)
Tocantins is one of the states of Brazil. . The state was formed in 1988 out of the northern part of Goiás, and construction began on the capital, Palmas, in 1989, in contrast to most of the other cities in the state which date back to the Portuguese colonial period...
. It was known as the Caatinga Woodpecker for some time, but this name is misleading and based on confusion between two places with similar names (see below).
Taxonomy
Normally, it has been considered a subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Rufous-headed Woodpecker
Rufous-headed Woodpecker
The Rufous-headed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It formerly included Kaempfer's Woodpecker as a subspecies....
(Celeus spectabilis), but an evaluation by the South American Classification Committee
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
in 2003 resulted in it being recognized as a distinct species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. This was based on the differences in habitat, size and plumage, combined with the large distance (more than 3000 kilometers [1850 mi]) between the ranges of the two species.
Description
It has a total length of about 24 centimeters (9½ in). The head and remiges are mainly rufous-chestnut, the underparts and back are buffBuff (colour)
Buff is a pale yellow-brown colour that got its name from the colour of buff leather.Displayed on the right is the colour buff.EtymologyAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, buff as a descriptor of a colour was first used in the London Gazette of 1686, describing a uniform to be "A Red Coat...
, the wing-coverts are barred in black and buff and the chest and tail are uniform black. The male has a red malar
Malar
Malar may refer to:* Malar, Iran, a city in Iran* Malar, Pakistan, a town in Pakistan* Malar , a deity in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons* Relating to the cheek...
and mottling on its crest. For comparison, the Rufous-headed Woodpecker is larger and has extensive black barring on the back and underparts.
Habitat
Little is known about its habitat preference, but it appears to be associated with bambooBamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
(specifically Guadua paniculata) growing in Cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
and babassu palm forest; very unlike the humid forest and woodland where the related Rufous-headed Woodpecker is found. There is no evidence to suggest that it occurs in Caatinga
Caatinga
Caatinga is a type of vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in the northeastern part of Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation"...
. Rather, the authors who proposed the common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
Caatinga Woodpecker and association it with the caatinga habitat mistook a place in the caatinga called Uruçuí-Una for the type locality Uruçuí, some 180 km. NNW in cerrado habitat.
This has led to Kaempfer's Woodpecker being suggested as a common name instead of Caatinga Woodpecker. The new name honours Emil Kaempfer who collected the type.
Status
Since its initial rediscovery in 2006, the Kaempfer's Woodpecker has been recorded at multiple sites in TocantinsTocantins
Tocantins may refer to:* Tocantins, a state in Brazil* Tocantins River, a river in Brazil* Survivor: Tocantins, a reality show set in Tocantins, Brazil* Tocantins Esporte Clube, a Brazilian football club...
, and very locally in adjacent states. Some sites are threatened by the construction of a new section of the Belém-Brasília Highway
Rodovia Belém-Brasília
Rodovia Belém-Brasília is a federal highway in Brazil. It is named after its chief engineer, who died in an accident during the construction of the highway, when a tree fell over his tent...
, and habitat loss is likely to be the main threat. However, due to the taxonomic
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
confusion with the Rufous-headed Woodpecker, it has only recently been evaluated by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
where it has been given a status of Critically Endangered for the 2007 Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
. Based on the additional sites discovered since then, it has been suggested that Endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
may be more appropriate.