Tiny woodpecker of gallery and coastal forests, including mangroves. Variable in appearance; generally told from other piculets by lack of barring or scalloping on belly, although many individuals have some barring on breast and irregular black spotting on flanks, whereas some are almost entirely unmarked below. Forages at middle and canopy levels, alone or with mixed-species flocks. Climbs along branches and vines, boring into decaying wood for insect prey.