Birdsong field guide
Fernandina's Flicker
Colaptes fernandinae
A rare and distinctive woodpecker endemic to Cuba, notable for its lack of bright facial markings and its preference for terrestrial foraging.
What it sounds like
A loud, repetitive 'wick-wick-wick' series and a sharp, descending 'pe-ah' note.
Field notes
- It is one of the most endangered woodpeckers in the Americas, with a highly fragmented population estimated at fewer than 1,000 individuals.
- Unlike most other flickers, it lacks a red nape patch or colorful crown, instead featuring dense black-and-buff barring across its entire head and body.
- It spends a significant portion of its time on the ground, using its slightly curved bill to probe for ants, beetles, and larvae.
- The species is a weak excavator and often relies on old nest cavities created by the West Indian Woodpecker in dead palms.
- They are known to be semi-colonial, with several pairs sometimes nesting in close proximity within the same grove of palms.
Habitat
Open palm savannas, pastures with scattered trees, and the edges of semi-deciduous forests.
Range
Endemic to the island of Cuba, specifically in localized areas like the Zapata Swamp and parts of Camagüey.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Heard a Fernandina's Flicker?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song