﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 493 



Family PICIDAE: Woodpeckers 



MELANERPES HUBRICAPILLUS RUBRIC APILLUS (Cabanis) 



Centurus rubricapillus Cabanis, Journ. fur Orn., 1862, p. 328 (Barranquilla, 

 Colombia). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf , Cantaura, December 2, 1945; gonads not enlarged, iris pale yellow. The 

 single specimen obtained is in molt. 



The red-crowned woodpecker was abundant in the deciduous sea- 

 sonal woods-edge habitat, where it was recorded throughout the year; 

 it was rarely encountered elsewhere. The bird appeared to be nesting 

 in June, but early in February it was seen to dig a nost hole in a soft 

 tree. Early in April it was entering the hole regularly at sundown, 

 apparently to pass the night. 



The common call note was a soft chrrrr. 



Local name, as for most woodpeckers, "carpintero," carpenter. 



CHRYSOPTILUS PUNCTIGULA PUNCTIPECTUS Cabanis and Heine 



Chrysoptilus punctipectus Cabanis and Heine, Museum Heineanum, vol. 4, 1863, 

 p. 163 (Venezuela). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Cantaura, December 4, 1945; gonads not enlarged; plumage very abraded. 



This woodpecker was usually recorded at stands of "moriche" 

 palm on the savanna; it was also seen occasionally in the deciduous 

 seasonal woods-edge habitat. It was recorded in April, May, August, 

 November, and December. 



The call note was a harsh, low peeek. 



DRYOCOPUS UNEATUS LINEATUS (Linnaeus) 



Picus lineatus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 174 (based on 

 Daubenton, Planches enlumin^es, pi. 717; Cayenne). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 c?, Cantaura, May 1, 1946; gonads not enlarged; iris light yellowish white; 

 feathering worn. 



This magnificent woodpecker was common throughout the year 

 both in the dry and wet woods around Cantaura and Caicara and 

 at stands of moriche palms in the savannas. The call note may be 

 written peek-cuchrrrrr, the peek being high and clear in tone, the 

 cuchrrrrr lower. 



All woodpeckers are Icnown in Venezuela by the general name 

 "carpintero"; this species was further designated locally as "car- 

 pintcro cope rojo," red-crested woodpecker. 



VENIUORNIS KIREU CONTINENTALIS Hellmayr 



Veniliornis kirkii continentalis Hellmayr, Nov. Zool., vol. 13, 1906, p. 39 (Carip6, 

 near Cumani, Venezuela). 



