White Woodpecker Melanerpes candidus

White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
The White Woodpecker is native to savanna areas of central South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia).
White Woodpecker Like other woodpeckers, it lives in tree holes.
White Woodpecker "Anyone at home?"
White Woodpecker "Have I splashed some soup on my white shirt-front?"
White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
It is not entirely white, having black wings, back and part of its tail and a pale yellow lower belly. Male and female have similar plumage but the male has a slightly yellowish nape. Both have pale blue eyes with a lemon yellow eye-ring.
White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
They are welcomed by farmers of passion fruit and orange/citrus groves as they eat large numbers of crop pests such as irapua bees (Melipona ruficrus/Trigona spinipes) which, although pollinators, tunnel through flower buds to reach nectar, damaging the fruit. They also eat wasps and larvae.