This small woodpecker inhabits floodplain forest along the Amazon and Ucayali rivers. Its range is closely tied to Cecropia-rich riverside forest, river islands, and nearby secondary forest.
About 9.5 cm long, it has a grey back, fine bars on the sides of the head and neck, and plain whitish underparts. Both sexes have a black crown; only the male has an orange crown patch.
It uses Cecropia-rich alluvial and floodplain forest, river islands, and nearby secondary forest. The selected species page gives no detailed account of its food or feeding behavior.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.