Tawny Piculet

Picumnus minutissimus

The Tawny Piculet (Picumnus minutissimus) is a tiny woodpecker found in South America. It has a distinctive tawny-brown plumage with fine black barring on the upperparts and a buffy-white underbelly. This species is known for its rapid drumming on trees and its high-pitched calls. Tawny Piculets forage for insects and larvae in the bark of trees, often in mixed-species flocks. They are commonly found in lowland forests, forest edges, and secondary growth woodlands. Despite being small in size, they play an important role in their ecosystems by controlling insect populations. The Tawny Piculet is not currently considered at risk and is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Habitat: Lowland forests, forest edges, secondary growth woodlands