Head to head
Chilean Flicker vs Magellanic Woodpecker
Chilean Flicker
VS Magellanic Woodpecker
Both belong to the woodpecker family and share parts of southern Chile and Argentina, but their size, habitat, and foraging style diverge dramatically.
| Chilean Flicker | Magellanic Woodpecker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Colaptes pitius | Campephilus magellanicus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Foraging style | Digs for ants on open ground | Extracts beetle larvae from dead wood |
| Preferred setting | Open woodland and scrubland | Old-growth temperate forest |
| Body size | Relatively large but not a genus giant | Largest surviving member of its genus |
| Taxonomic significance | None comparable | Last surviving giant after two relatives went extinct |
| Habitat | Grassland, forest | Forest |
Chilean Flicker vs Magellanic Woodpecker: common questions
Which woodpecker forages on the ground?
The Chilean flicker does, digging for ants and other insects on open ground, an unusual habit for a woodpecker, unlike the Magellanic woodpecker, which extracts prey from dead wood in dense forest.
Which woodpecker is more threatened?
The Magellanic woodpecker is, classified as Near Threatened due to the loss of old-growth forest it depends on, while the Chilean flicker remains Least Concern across its more open habitat.
Which woodpecker is the largest surviving member of its genus?
The Magellanic woodpecker is, the largest surviving member of its genus following the extinction of its closest relatives, a distinction the Chilean flicker does not share.