Other Names (World)
West Indian Woodpecker, Great Red-bellied Woodpecker, West Indian Red-bellied Woodpecker, Bahama Woodpecker (nyeanus, blakei), Cayman Woodpecker (caymanensis), Cuban Red-bellied Woodpecker (superciliaris)
West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) [XC331869]
by id from Marsh Harbour, Central Abaco, Bahamas (call)
West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) [XC399151]
by Jesse Fagan from Soroa, Artemisa, Cuba (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes combined with other barred congeners in a separate genus Centurus. Forms a superspecies with Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Birds on Grand Bahama sometimes separated as subspecies bahamensis: on average marginally shorter-billed, slightly darker below and tending to show slightly more black behind eye, but otherwise identical to San Salvador subspecies nyeanus, which is itself somewhat variable, so the two are more appropriately lumped. Subspecies caymanensis formerly considered a separate species.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
nyeanus (Ridgway, 1886) - Grand Bahama and San Salvador (northern and eastern Bahamas).
blakei (Ridgway, 1886) - Great Abaco (northern Bahamas).
superciliaris (Temminck, 1827) - Cuba, Cantiles Keys and associated keys.
murceus (Bangs, 1910) - I of Pines, Cayo Largo and Cayo Real.