Fun Campo Flicker Facts For Kids

Campo flicker (Colaptes campestris) is a common species of woodpeckers mostly found in the savanna and grasslands of South America. The range of this bird includes eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, north-eastern Argentina, and isolated populations in southern Suriname or Amapa.

They are also known as pica pau do campo or Carpintero Campestre in Spanish. Pica Pau does campo; also, a Spanish word means country woodpecker.

The conservation status of campo flicker is Least Concern, which means populations are stable for now. They build their nest on termite mounds they have devoured and lay four to five eggs.

Campo flicker has a reddish or golden-yellow neck with a black crown. These woodpeckers are easily identified because of the black bars on their body. Their eyes are reddish-brown with a brownish-black tail and pink gray feet.

The southern population of campo flicker is considered to be a subspecies of its own called pampas flicker (Colaptes campestroides). This subspecies doesn't have a black throat but a white one.

The diet of campo flicker includes termites, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. They rarely consume fruits and are mostly insectivores. This species of terrestrial woodpecker usually spends more time on the ground rather than the sky.

If you liked this, check out the rose-breasted grosbeak and the Muscovy duck.

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Campo Flicker Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a campo flicker?

Campo flicker is a species of terrestrial woodpecker known to reside in most parts of South America, including Argentina and Brazil.

What class of animal does a campo flicker belong to?

Campo flicker (Colaptes campestris) is a species of bird belonging to class Aves, from the Colaptes genus of the Picidae family.

How many campo flickers are there in the world?

The data on the population of campo flicker is not known as of now, as no studies have been conducted around the world. It seems that the population is increasing, although habitat loss like deforestation has led to the loss of breeding grounds.

Where does a campo flicker live?

The campo flicker is endemic to the farmlands of South America, including eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Suriname, and north-eastern Argentina. They also have isolated populations in Amapa.

What is a campo flicker's habitat?

The campo flicker lives in savannas, arid scrubs, grasslands, farmlands, forest edges and clearings. They are versatile bird species that mostly prefer staying on the ground instead of flying.

This bird usually chooses an area with termite mounds, giving both a food supply as well as an area for making nests. Both parents take part in the 16-day incubation after which, they feed the young ones together.

Who does campo flicker live with?

The campo flicker mostly stays in flocks of small groups of up to eight individuals.

How long does a campo flicker live?

The campo flicker can live for up to four years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season of these birds may vary according to their location. It is from January to April in the Northern parts and from August to November in the southern areas of their distribution.

They may form small colonies with up to six other campo flickers in the same area. The nest is usually made on termite mounds, tree trunk 39 ft (12 m) above ground, dead stumps, or nests of Rufous Hornero. They can lay four to five eggs with about three clutches each season.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of campo flicker is of Least Concern, which means the populations are stable and not in any immediate danger.

Campo Flicker Fun Facts

What does campo flicker look like?

The campo flicker is a colorful bird. They have blackish upperparts with a barred brown and white pattern on the wings.

Chin and throat are black. The breast is golden yellow, and the rest of the underparts are white with black bars. The underwing of campo flicker is yellowish with has a darker tip and a brownish-black tail.

The male has a black forehead that ends around the neck. The bill of this bird is black and eyes a reddish-brown read pinkish-gray feet. The campo male and female have a similar barred appearance.

The only difference is that the throat or breast of the male is red and black in females. Colaptes campestroides species has a slight variation in appearance, which is that their throat and chin are creamy white instead of black.

How cute are they?

The campo flicker, Colaptes campestris, has a beautiful plumage pattern and looks very small. We think they are absolutely adorable!

How do they communicate?

Like most birds, campo flickers communicate using songs, sounds, and calls. They can also use body language and tactile cues to communicate. Their call sound may change depending upon the interaction. A strong call is for alarming flocks in the case of predators, and long calls are used to attract a mate.

How big is a campo flicker?

The height of a campo flicker, Colaptes campestris, is 11-12.2 in (28-31 cm). They are about one and a half times smaller than one of the world's largest woodpeckers, the pileated woodpecker.

How fast can a campo flicker fly?

There is no data about the speed of the campo flicker.

How much does a campo flicker weigh?

The weight of the campo flicker, Colaptes campestris, is 5-6.7 oz (141.7-190 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the male and female species of campo flicker.

What would you call a baby campo flicker?

A baby campo flicker is known as a chick or a fledgling.

What do they eat?

The campo flickers feed on insects like termites, grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. They mainly hunt on the ground by hopping and hammer on termite mounds to catch their prey. On very rare occasions, they can also eat fruits. The main predators of campo flickers are feral cats, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, snakes, and hawks.

Are they dangerous?

Campo flickers are not dangerous and rarely interrupt human activities. They are a harmless bird that just focuses on foraging in flocks.

Would they make a good pet?

Campo flickers are free, wild birds, and it is not a good idea to cage them. They belong in the wild, and it's better to let it be that way instead of trying to domesticate them.

Did you know...

Although campo flickers are territorial, they are not aggressive species. They may fight or defend their territories during the breeding season. The skirmish usually ends with one of the flicker retreatings. The campo flicker is not necessarily migratory but is known to travel a distance that can range from 2296.5-11483 ft (700-3500 m).

Does campo flicker spend more time on the ground?

Yes, campo flickers spend more time on the ground than in the sky. This is because the major part of their diet is termites, which are usually found on grassland grounds. They go around hopping and pecking on mounds of termites to secure their food.

How to identify campo flicker?

Campo flicker can easily be identified with the black and white bar on their body. The red or golden-yellow throat, depending upon the species, is also a good way to tell them apart from other birds. The beak is slightly longer, a characteristic common in most woodpeckers. As a barred woodpecker, you will have an easy time recognizing them.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our cockatiel facts and swan facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our  coloring pages. You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Campo Flicker coloring pages.