Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Hoffmann's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii) - HBW 7, p. 450

French: Pic de Hoffmann German: Hoffmannspecht Spanish: Carpintero de Hoffmann

Taxonomy: Centurus Hoffmannii Cabanis, 1862, Costa Rica.
Sometimes combined with other barred congeners in a separate genus Centurus. Forms a superspecies with M. aurifrons, and sometimes regarded as conspecific. Hybridizes with latter in S Honduras (R Pespire) and with M. rubricapillus in C Costa Rica, producing numerous individuals with intermediate appearance (e.g. majority between Tárcoles and Quepos, in Costa Rica, have orange hindneck and belly). Monotypic.

Distribution: Pacific slope from S Honduras and Nicaragua S to Costa Rica (S to Quepos, and on Caribbean slope to Turrialba).