A distinctive mostly unmarked, brownish-red piculet with black crown spotted white or yellow and creamy forehead. Unique in range, where the only mostly brown piculet. Uncommon to fairly common in dry areas with scrub, forest, and mangrove edges; also locally in humid forest borders. Found singly, in pairs, or small groups foraging in vine tangles in understory. Voice is a high-pitched trill “i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’I” and a series of 3-6 high-pitched whistled notes.