The bar-breasted piculet (Picumnus aurifrons) is a species of bird in subfamily Picumninae of the woodpecker family Picidae.

[3] The bar-breasted piculet is the smallest extant species in the highly diverse woodpecker family.

Adult males of the nominate subspecies P. a. aurifrons have a black crown with yellow streaks on the forehead and white spots on the rest, and gray-brown cheeks with a whitish line behind the eye.

[5][6][7] Subspecies P. a. purusianus has darker upperparts than the nominate and heavier, black, barring on the breast.

P. a. wallacii has obscure barring on its upperparts and paler underparts with fainter streaking and more spots than the previous two.

P. a. borbae has red streaks on its forehead and a yellower belly than the nominate with stronger black barring on the breast.

[4] The bar-breasted piculet primarily inhabits the edges and clearings of humid tropical terra firme forest.