This woodpecker occurs on the Yucatán Peninsula and nearby areas. It inhabits dry lowland scrub and deciduous forest and feeds on insects under bark.
It is about 18 cm long. The bill base is yellow, the back is black-and-white barred, the face and underparts are pale beige, the lower belly is red and the tail is black. The male has a red crown and nape; the female has a red nape only.
It searches for invertebrates under bark. The regional guide says it excavates nesting holes in tree trunks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.