Bird
Guadeloupe Woodpecker
Melanerpes herminieriAlso known as Tapeur, Guadeloupe Black Woodpecker
Guadeloupe woodpeckers boast entirely dark plumage with a striking reddish-purple sheen across their belly, setting them apart from nearly all other Caribbean birds. Endemic to the island archipelago of Guadeloupe, these forest dwellers forage along trunk bark and decaying branches for wood-boring insects and wild fruit. Their drum calls and loud tapping sounds echo through moist tropical rainforests and dry coastal woodlands alike.
EndemicArborealVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBeetle Larvae, Tree Snails, Wild Berries
Predators
- Invasive Rats
- Feral Cats
- Small Asian Mongoose
ThreatsDeforestation, severe hurricane damage, and introduced predators
HabitatsTropical rainforest, swamp forest, and wooded gardens
Life span4–8 years
Classification
- FamilyPicidae
- SpeciesMelanerpes herminieri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by its uniformly dark black-and-purple feathers and persistent tree-tapping habits.
- Support conservation
- Keep a clear distance from active nest holes between April and July to prevent nest desertion.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Drumming: Listen for fast, resonant tapping on hollow trunks in damp rainforest clearings.
- Scan the Canopy: Search mature trees and coconut palms in protected forest reserves.
- Protect Cavities: Avoid disturbing dead trees or standing snags where pairs excavate nests.
Genus Member "Red bellied Woodpecker" by Manjith Kainickara *manjithkaini.net* is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Genus Member "Birds - Red-headed Woodpecker by MarvinnAnn Patterson" by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
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