Description

The Guadeloupe woodpecker, an endemic and protected species in Guadeloupe, is the only resident woodpecker in the Lesser Antilles. It is recognized by its red throat and belly, which contrast with its black plumage. Its wings are metallic blue, and its legs are gray-green. The male’s beak is longer than its head, unlike the female. It measures 26–28 cm and feeds on termites, ants, larvae, and small fruits.

During the breeding season, the male “drums” on resonant surfaces, such as tree trunks, to signal his presence to females. Both parents excavate a nest in a tree trunk, where the female lays up to 3 eggs per year.

Habitat

It favors forested areas, swamps, and mangroves in Guadeloupe.

Threats

The primary cause of its decline is deforestation (from timber production, urbanization, etc.). Predation by rats, which kill young woodpeckers, is also a major threat. In 2007, a study estimated the Guadeloupe population at 19,527 breeding pairs.