[9][10][11][12] The specific epithet auricularis means "eared", an appearance created by the confluent, fine patterning of the species' head.

They are pale brownish buff on their lores and sides of the head, sometimes with indistinct grayish bars.

Their tail is pale yellowish olive green with dusky tips on the central feathers and sometimes darker bars or spots on the outer ones.

Juveniles resemble adult females with less distinct barring on the underparts; the male's red facial stripe is mixed with gray.

[12] The grey-crowned woodpecker's breeding season has not been fully determined but includes at least March and April.

[1] "Gray-crowned Woodpecker faces heightened risk because of its specialization on threatened tropical highland forest habitats.

The primary threat to this species is loss of this habitat type due to conversion to agriculture, wood harvesting, and livestock grazing.