Upon sequencing the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, two studies published in 2015 found that it belonged in its current genus Celeus.

Juveniles resemble adults but are browner with less red on their crown, gray ear coverts, and more extensive barring.

"[8] The helmeted woodpecker is found in the southern Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, and possibly formerly in Rio Grande do Sul.

Its range also includes the eastern half of Paraguay and Misiones Province in far northeastern Argentina.

The helmeted woodpecker is mostly found in large tracts of Atlantic Forest, both semi-deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous.

Much of its foraging is by gentle probing with less hammering and bark flaking, and often "works" soft decaying trees.

Few details are known of its diet but it has several times been observed eating insect larvae and less frequently ants and berries.

Its "long call" is "a strident, fairly drawn out kwee-kwee-kwee-kwee with four to ten notes" that can be heard for more than 500 m (1,600 ft).

Much of its Atlantic Forest habitat has been cleared and fragmented for timber, agriculture, ranching, and for pine plantations.