Meet The Black-Bodied Woodpecker, Whose Drum Echoes Through Paraguay's Chaco

Paraguay is home to an extraordinary variety of birds, inhabiting everything from forests and wetlands to grasslands, the Chaco and urban spaces. Yet many of these species often go unnoticed, even when they live close to us. In this new Birds of Paraguay series, The Asunción Times, with the support of the Club de Observadores de Aves del Paraguay (CON), invites readers to discover the country through its birdlife, exploring different species, their habitats, behaviours and role in Paraguay’s ecosystems. For Birds of Paraguay #4: The Black-Bodied Woodpecker, Whose Drum Echoes Through The Chaco, we travel into the dry forests of the Chaco to meet a bird whose unmistakable drumming speaks volumes about life in the forest.

Deep in the Chaco, a powerful drumming can suddenly break through the stillness of the forest. The source is the Black-bodied Woodpecker (Dryocopus schulzii), a striking specialist of Paraguay’s dry forests. Its rapid, resonant knocks against tree trunks are not simply the sounds of a bird searching for food, they are a form of communication, announcing its presence and helping it find a mate.

What is drumming?

Drumming is the rapid, repetitive tapping woodpeckers make with their beaks against tree trunks or branches. Unlike foraging, this is not an attempt to drill into the wood for food. Instead, it is a vital form of acoustic communication, serving the same purpose as the territorial and courtship songs of other birds.

How do they drum?

The Stance: The woodpecker braces its feet and stiff tail feathers firmly against the trunk, using its entire body as leverage.
The Motion: With incredibly quick, precise movements of the neck and head, it strikes the surface multiple times in mere fractions of a second.
The Pattern: The result is a rhythmic cadence that varies in length and speed depending on the bird’s intention.
The Signature: Each species has its own unique drumming “signature.” Some produce long, resonant rolls, while others favor short, sharp bursts.

Ecosystem engineers of the forest

Woodpeckers are extraordinary birds equipped with remarkable adaptations:

Natural Architects: They carve out deep cavities in tree trunks. When abandoned, these hollows become essential nesting sites for other species, such as owls, toucans, and small mammals.
An Incredible Tongue: Their tongue is exceptionally long and can sometimes wrap around the inside of their skull. When retracted, it is stored inside the skull. Its barbed tip helps them extract larvae hidden deep within the wood.
Built-In Shock Absorbers: Woodpeckers have specialized, spongy skull bones and unique neck muscles.
These structures cushion the impact of each blow. They help prevent brain damage, even when woodpeckers peck thousands of times a day.

A shrinking forest

Measuring about 30 centimeters in length, the Black-bodied Woodpecker is a specialist of the Chaco. Its presence is a key indicator of forest health; where this bird thrives, the ecosystem retains its ancient balance.

However, intense deforestation and wildfires have drastically fragmented its habitat, putting its populations at risk. The Black-bodied Woodpecker is not just another bird—it is a vital part of the Chaco’s identity and a stark reminder of what stands to be lost if we do not protect our native forests. Conserving its habitat means preserving an ecosystem that regulates the climate, stores water, and sustains hundreds of unique species.

An invitation to the South American Bird Fair

If this article has sparked your curiosity about Paraguay’s birds and the ecosystems they inhabit, there is a perfect opportunity to explore further. The South American Bird Fair is coming to Asunción from 17 to 20 September 2026, bringing together birdwatchers, researchers, photographers and nature lovers at the Cultural Center of the Port of Asunción. Through talks, guided outings and educational activities, the event will offer a chance to discover the continent’s extraordinary birdlife while learning more about the habitats that sustain it. After all, protecting birds like the Black-bodied Woodpecker begins with understanding the forests they call home.