The exploration of triads throughout the avifauna of Trinidad and Tobago has taken me by way of varied households and species teams on this weblog. It is taken a lifetime of its personal to be sincere. Whereas this submit is not fully following that development, it loosely is. On the smaller island of Tobago there are three species of woodpeckers and three species of woodcreepers – one in every of every is discovered on Tobago however not Trinidad.
Woodpeckers are charismatic birds, and when a Golden olive Woodpecker makes an look throughout the darkness of the rainforest they at all times elicit gasps of marvel and awe.
Golden olive Woodpecker
An fascinating tidbit to notice concerning the Purple-rumped Woodpecker is that whereas it’s discovered on each Trinidad and Tobago, they inhabit differing habitats on every island – mangroves on the previous, rainforests on the latter.
Purple-rumped Woodpecker
By far the best woodpecker to see on Tobago is the Purple-crowned Woodpecker. Properly-adapted to city and suburban life, mangroves, in addition to each dry and moist forest, this woodpecker has additionally been noticed perching on hummingbird feeders. Nectar could also be the principle driver for this behaviour, however they are going to definitely not go on the chance to nab any bugs interested in the feeder.
The Purple-crowned Woodpecker is one in every of a number of species which are discovered all through northern South America and Tobago however are absent from Trinidad. The opposite species talked about right here with an identical distribution is the tiny Olivaceous Woodcreeper.
Purple-crowned Woodpecker
Olivaceous Woodcreeper
Bigger woodcreepers are typically extra detectable, however this doesn’t at all times filter down into being simpler to see. I’ve discovered that Cocoa Woodcreepers have a depraved behavior of vocalizing loudly whereas sitting on the aspect of a tree trunk that’s hidden from view. Not solely are they the most important woodcreeper in T&T, I consider they’re additionally the loudest. Their wealthy musical calls will be heard from appreciable distance.
Endurance and luck is required to get an excellent view of any woodcreeper, although. This Cocoa Woodcreeper was attempting to find a meal round a fallen tree and fortunately was eye degree lengthy sufficient for me to get an honest picture displaying off its enchanting facial patterns.
On the subject of persistence, the Plain-brown Woodcreeper follows rivers of military ants as they course by way of the forest flooring, very similar to antbirds do. The ever-resourceful woodcreeper merely perches immobile on a close-by stump and waits for any bugs or small invertebrates searching for refuge from the marauding ants to climb into putting vary.
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
All six of those species are comparatively straightforward to see, whereas they could not match the outline of “charismatic species” in accordance with some unkind individuals, they’re however great and thrilling birds to come across on any birding journey.
