Medium-sized woodpecker with stained yellowish-brown underparts. Note white barring on back and thin stripes down the neck and chest. Male has an all-red crown, female an all-black one. Compare with Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, which is whiter-faced and has more extensive and better-defined stripes on the underparts. Gives a sharp “tik” as well as a rolling rattle. Prefers open forest and forest edge.