• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species was formerly widespread in Cuba. As a consequence of the loss and degradation of its habitat, mainly through the destruction of palm trees, the species is declining rapidly. The population is now very small and restricted to very small and scattered subpopulations. The species therefore qualifies as Endangered.

Population justification
The population is estimated to number 600-800 mature individuals (A. Mitchell in litt. 1998; A. Kirkconnell in litt. 1999).
The population structure has not been assessed. Based on its localised distribution (Winkler and Christie 2020; eBird 2021), it is likely that the species forms roughly eight small subpopulations. The largest subpopulation of 350-400 individuals is found in the Zapata Swamp (Kirkconnell 2013), which roughly equates to 230-270 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The species is undergoing a decline, mainly as a consequence of ongoing habitat loss. Observations from the Zapata Swamp however show that the number of breeding pairs declined from 30 in 1995 to 4 in 2012 in Bermeja and from 5 breeding pairs in 2007 to 2 in 2012 in Mera-Molina (Kirkconnell and Wiley 2017). Assuming that these declines are representative for the subpopulation in the Zapata Swamp, this subpopulation would be declining by 75% over ten years.
There is no information on the rate of population change in other subpopulations. However, the species is facing the same threats across its range and as such, it is conceivable that all subpopulations are declining at a similar rate. Preliminarily, it is inferred that the species has declined by 50-79% over the past ten years. In view of ongoing threats, declines are suspected to continue into the future (C. Sharpe and G. Kirwan in litt. 2021).

Colaptes fernandinae was once widespread but never abundant on Cuba, and is now rare and localised. The species has disappeared from many previously occupied areas; it is currently only known from Pinar del Río, Artemisia, southern Matanzas in the Zapata Swamp, Cienfuegos, north-central Villa Clara, south-western Sanci Spiritus, Camagüey and adjacent Las Tunas, northern Holguín and southern Granma and Santiago de Cuba provinces (Mitchell 1998; A. Mitchell in litt. 1998; G. Kirwan in litt. 2005; A. Kirkconnell in litt. 2005; Kirkconnell 2013). The largest population persists in the Zapata Swamp.

The species occurs in open palm-savannah, and also inhabits pastures, swampy forest, forest edge and occasionally dense woodland (Winkler et al. 1995; Kirkconnell 2013). It is closely associated with palm trees, especially sabal palm Sabal maritima and royal palm Roystonea regia (Mitchell and Wells 1997; J. A. Jackson in litt. 1999; Kirkconnell 2013). It nests in cavities of dead or sometimes live palm trees. Courtship takes place in late December and January, and nest excavation begins in February or March; breeding takes place in March-June (Winkler et al. 1995). It is mostly solitary and aggression between conspecifics is common, but loose 'colonies' have occasionally been found at Bermeja in the Zapata Swamp (Wells and Mitchell 1995; Mitchell 1998; A. Mitchell in litt. 1998, 2007).

Extensive logging and clearance for agriculture are severe threats. Hurricanes have a devastating impact on dead palm trees and cause significant habitat destruction (Mitchell 1998; A. Mitchell in litt. 1998, 2005); hurricane strength and frequency are feared to increase in the future with climate warming, leaving the forests open and fragmented (C. Sharpe and G. Kirwan in litt. 2021; A. Kirkconnell in litt. 2021).
Nesting trees are often shared with the Cuban Parrot Amazona leucocephala, and trappers frequently topple the trees to collect young parrots, causing both the loss of the woodpecker's brood and the permanent destruction of the nest-site (Mitchell and Wells 1997). Trappers will often fell a tree containing a woodpecker nest hole to check if there is a parrot present, or even fell trees with woodpecker nests when there are clearly no parrots present, presumably to eat the eggs or nestlings (A. Mitchell in litt. 2007). Re-growth of Sabal maritima trees is limited in parts of the range, particularly in Camaguey (A. Kirkconnell in litt. 2021).
The limited availability of suitable nesting trees leads to increased competition with other hole-nesting birds, including West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris, Yellow-shafted Flicker Colaptes auratus and Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus (Winkler and Christie 2020). West Indian Woodpeckers M. superciliaris have been observed to prey on the eggs and chicks (Wells and Mitchell 1995).
Introduced mammals, including feral cats and pigs, are a further threat (Kirkconnell 2013).

Conservation Actions Underway
The Zapata Swamp is a reserve, but there are no available resources to effectively protect the area (Mitchell et al. 2000). An action plan for the subpopulation in the Zapata Swamp was compiled in 2013 (Kirkconnell 2013).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Investigate the size and trend of the subpopulations outside the Zapata area. Monitor population trends. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation.
Protect the most important sites where this species breeds, including Bermeja, San Blas, Mera and Peralta (Kirkconnell 2013). Increase the number of forest guards and patrol the most important breeding sites of this species during the day and in a regular manner (Kirkconnell 2013). Increase the amount of dead palms suitable for nesting through habitat management (Kirkconnell 2013). Fit nest-boxes to live palms within and around present nesting areas (Mitchell et al. 2000). Establish a programme to reduce feral cats in areas where the species is present (Kirkconnell 2013). Consider controlling West Indian Woodpeckers Melanerpes superciliaris at key sites to reduce competition for nest sites (A. Mitchell in litt. 2007). Increase environmental education in areas where the species is found. Design and distribute posters to raise awareness of the importance and vulnerability of this species and others, such as Amazona leucocephala (Mitchell et al. 2000). 

30 cm. Medium-sized, long-billed and heavily barred woodpecker. Upperparts and wings brown-black barred yellowish, below yellowish barred brown-black, crown with cinnamon wash, ear-coverts yellower. Long, narrow and decurved bill. Male has black moustache, heavily mottled in female. Similar spp Yellow-shafted Flicker C. auratus is more strikingly marked and more arboreal. Voice Variable, including a descending peah and a kind of Krrr, resembling that of the West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris. Often quiet. Hints Check areas of palms in open country and woodland edge. Often feeds on ground.

Text account compilers
Everest, J., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Harding, M., Isherwood, I., Jackson, J.A., Kirkconnell, A., Kirwan, G.M., Mahood, S., Mitchell, A., Sharpe, C.J. & Wege, D.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fernandinas-flicker-colaptes-fernandinae on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.