Systematics and evolution Colaptes

the extinct guadalupe flicker

the genus colaptes belongs diverse tribe picini, included in malarpicini authors. regardless, tribe contains mid-sized , rather terrestrial woodpeckers typically greenish or brownish wings, large , dark forms e.g. in genus dryocopus. rather closely related genus picus can considered old world ecomorphological equivalent of colaptes; type genus of tribe picini (if valid), true woodpecker subfamily (picinae), family of woodpeckers , relatives (picidae), suborder (pici) , entire order (piciformes) of increasingly more distant woodpecker relatives , including puffbirds (galbulidae). picus not closely related flickers genus piculus, however, have more conventional lifestyle , forage on ground less often.

colaptes can divided 2 groups: typical flickers (subgenus colaptes) slender , more terrestrial species solid-colored tops of heads. occur on americas except in polar regions. forest flickers (subgenus chrysoptilus) more arboreal species; of them have red nape , different-colored crown. found in south america; group of 3 species formerly placed in piculus ranges via mesoamerican cordillera north mexico.

the genus evolved few million years ago, around miocene/pliocene boundary or earlier. fossil specimen dmnh 1262 pliocene (about 5 million years ago), found near ainsworth, nebraska (usa), right ulna complete, tips damaged. seems either basal colaptes or genus of picini (or malarpicini) closely related it, , resembles ulna of forest flickers more of typical flickers, suggesting bird not terrestrial modern-day subgenus colaptes.

an undescribed pleistocene fossil flicker bahamas belongs subgenus colaptes judging biogeography; close c. fernandinae, perhaps c. aureus.

species

green-barred woodpecker (colaptes melanochloros), forest flicker



the golden-olive woodpecker (colaptes rubiginosus) formerly placed in piculus

subgenus colaptes

northern flicker, colaptes auratus. binomen (species name) means gilt (gilded).

yellow-shafted flicker, colaptes (auratus) auratus
red-shafted flicker, colaptes (auratus) cafer
caribbean flicker, colaptes (auratus) chrysocaulosus
guatemalan flicker, colaptes (auratus) mexicanoides
guadalupe flicker, colaptes auratus/cafer rufipileus – extinct (c. 1906). might invalid. nominate race colonized guadalupe island in 1996.


campo flicker, colaptes campestris. campestris latin of fields , refers species favorite habitat, open grassland.

pampas flicker, colaptes campestris campestroides


gilded flicker, colaptes chrysoides. chrysoides means gold .
fernandina s flicker, colaptes fernandinae, endangered bird native cuba. fernandina name cuba.
bermuda flicker, colaptes oceanicus. extinct species known fossil remains of late pleistocene , holocene deposits of bermuda. might have survived until 17th century.
chilean flicker, colaptes pitius. species name derives bird s characteristic call, pitiu-pitiu-pitiu .
andean flicker, colaptes rupicola. rupicola latin rock-dweller .

subgenus chrysoptilus

black-necked woodpecker, colaptes atricollis. atricollis latin dark-necked .
green-barred woodpecker, colaptes melanochloros
golden-breasted woodpecker, colaptes melanolaimus
spot-breasted woodpecker, colaptes punctigula. punctigula comes latin adjective punctatus meaning, spotted , , noun gula, meaning throat.
black-crowned woodpecker, colaptes atriceps
gray-crowned woodpecker, colaptes auricularis (formerly in piculus)
crimson-mantled woodpecker, colaptes rivolii (formerly in piculus)
golden-olive woodpecker, colaptes rubiginosus (formerly in piculus)
bronze-winged woodpecker, colaptes aeruginosus




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