Yucatán Woodpecker
Yucatán WoodpeckerYucatán WoodpeckerYucatán WoodpeckerYucatán Woodpecker

Yucatán Woodpecker

Melanerpes pygmaeus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
689 Verified records at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Yucatan woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is sometimes referred to as the red-vented woodpecker. The Yucatan woodpecker is found in Belize and Mexico, and ranges over the entire Yucatán Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Yucatán Woodpecker sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 689 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Velasquez's Woodpecker

Velasquez's Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes santacruzi

10–20% · With luck
Lineated Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryocopus lineatus

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
LC

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sphyrapicus varius

5–10% · With luck
Golden-olive Woodpecker
LC

Golden-olive Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes rubiginosus

5–10% · Rare
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
LC

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryobates scalaris

<5% · Rare
Pale-billed Woodpecker
LC

Pale-billed Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campephilus guatemalensis

<5% · Rare
Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leuconotopicus fumigatus

<5% · Rare
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
LC

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Celeus castaneus

<5% · Rare
Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

30–40% · Possible
Collared Aracari
LC

Collared Aracari

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pteroglossus torquatus

30–40% · Possible
White-necked Puffbird
LC

White-necked Puffbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
40–50
Feb
30–40
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
30–40
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
60–70%
2 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
30–40%
3 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
4 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
5 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Yucatán Woodpecker in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

About 33% of wildlife watchers report a Yucatán Woodpecker sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 689 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Yucatán Woodpecker in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for Yucatán Woodpecker in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.

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