Head to head
Austral Parakeet vs Magellanic Woodpecker
Austral Parakeet
VS Magellanic Woodpecker
Both birds are closely tied to the cold forests of southern Chile and Argentina, but each holds a very different kind of record.
| Austral Parakeet | Magellanic Woodpecker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Enicognathus ferrugineus | Campephilus magellanicus |
| Notable record | The southernmost parrot species on Earth | The largest surviving member of its genus |
| Diet | A herbivore | An insectivore |
| Habitat | Southern beech forest | Old-growth temperate Patagonian forest |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Sexual dimorphism | Not documented as distinctive | Males have a red crest, females a curled black crest |
| Habitat type | Forest, mountains | Forest |
Austral Parakeet vs Magellanic Woodpecker: common questions
Which one holds a world geographic record?
The austral parakeet holds this record, breeding further south than any other parrot species on Earth, unlike the Magellanic woodpecker, whose record instead concerns its genus rather than geography.
Which one is an insectivore rather than a herbivore?
The Magellanic woodpecker is the insectivore, extracting beetle larvae from dead and dying trees, while the austral parakeet instead feeds on seeds, berries, and buds.
Which one faces greater conservation concern?
The Magellanic woodpecker faces greater concern, classified as Near Threatened and declining due to old-growth forest loss, compared with the austral parakeet's stable, Least Concern status.