Animalia Life

Melanerpes herminieri
SUBFAMILY
Picinae
TAXONOMY
Picus herminieri Lesson, 1830.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Pic de la Guadeloupe; German: Guadeloupespecht; Spanish: Carpintero de Guadeloupe.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
9.4 in (24 cm), 3.1–3.5 oz (87–100 g); glossy black above and black with dull red overtones below. Sexes alike. Juveniles less glossy and with dull red-orange tinge below.
DISTRIBUTION
Found only in Guadeloupe in the West Indies; 75% of the population of 10,000+ birds are on the more forested island of Basse-Terre.
HABITAT
Semi-deciduous to evergreen forest, including upland, mangrove, and swamp forest.
BEHAVIOR
Moves deliberately through the forest; returns frequently to fruit-bearing trees.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages mainly on trunks and larger branches; diet includes insects, fruit, and seeds.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Typically excavates nest cavity in the trunk of a dead stub; nesting occurs February–August; both parents share incubation of 3–5 eggs; incubation period 14–16 days; young fledge at 33–37 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
The Guadeloupe woodpecker is considered a Near Threatened species; clearcutting, conversion of forest habitats to other uses, and removal of dead trees are major threats; introduced rats may prey on eggs and nestlings.

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