Bird stories, Pale-billed Woodpecker and Smoky Brown-woodpecker

When the pich, the Smoky Brown Woodpecker (Veniliornis fumigatus), cries thee times in a row, it is a sign that something bad is going to happen.


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While a home visitation is considered something of considerable joy for the Mopan and quite anticipated, the one exception is the visit of a salesperson. In fact, the Mopan believe that if a Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) sings near a person’s house, it means a salesperson is on their way to visit.

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Hull, K. & Fergus, R. AN ETHNOORNITHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO HUMAN-BIRD RELATIONS AMONG THE MOPAN MAYA OF BELIZE. 2009.


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