This small woodpecker is recorded in northern Salta, Argentina. Males have red and white spots on the head; females lack the red. It occurs in savanna and scrub habitats.
The male has a black crown with white spots and red spots on the forehead and crown. Its back is grey-brown, and the throat and underparts have a black-and-white scaly pattern. The female lacks red on the head.
In northern Salta it is recorded in savanna, scrub, woodland, and forest. The account does not describe feeding behavior, so only the documented habitats are stated here.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.