Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.

Where Hope Takes Flight

Olivaceous Piculet:

Say hello to one of natures tiniest rebels! The Olivaceous Piculet is a pint-sized woodpecker with a twist�it skips the whole tail-as-support thing. Instead, it scrambles effortlessly through dead branches, digging under bark for its favorite treat: ants!

When it�s time to start a family, this dynamic duo (male and female) carves out the cutest little nest in soft wood, complete with a doorway so perfectly round it could be a work of art. Inside, mom lays her delicate, white eggs on a bed of woodchips. Teamwork makes the dream work�they take turns incubating for 14 days until the little ones arrive!

The babies? Naked, blind, and hungry for ant larvae and pupae (yum). They�re ready to take flight after just 24 days but aren�t in a hurry to leave the fam. These piculets stick together, even upgrading to a bigger nest if things get too crowded.

Good news: these feathery architects are thriving, listed as least concern on the endangered species list. Pretty impressive for a bird that�s barely the size of your hand!