Frugivory by woodpeckers (Aves, Picidae): new records and insights into their roles as seed dispersers

In this study, we report four novel instances of frugivory by woodpeckers, specifically the green-barred woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros), campo flicker (Colaptes campestris) and white-spotted woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster). We also compile existing frugivory records from the literature and discuss the potential of these woodpeckers to act as effective seed dispersers. Our findings indicate that frugivory by these woodpecker species is widespread across their ranges and represents an opportunistic behavior. We propose that these woodpeckers likely contribute to the effective seed dispersal of most native plants they interact with as they either swallow whole fruits, ingest small seeds along with the pulp when fruits are consumed piecemeal, or transport whole fruits away from the maternal plant. Our findings underscore that frugivory is a taxonomically and geographically widespread phenomenon within the Picidae family. The high diversity of plants consumed and the extensive geographical distribution of records suggest that the three woodpecker species considered here play a significant and previously underappreciated role as seed dispersers.