See text Melanerpes is a genus of woodpeckers of the family Picidae found in the Americas.

The 24 members of the genus are mostly colourful birds, conspicuously barred in black and white, with some red and yellow.

[4] Members of Melanerpes are small to medium-sized woodpeckers found exclusively in the New World.

[5] Most species are boldly marked in black and white, with some areas of red and yellow.

These have complex breeding systems including some non-breeding adult helpers assisting in rearing the young.