In 2006, Moore et al. published research on mtDNA COI and Cyt b sequences which suggested that the two belong in genus Veniliornis.

However, the population in Bolivia differs in several ways from that further south and may deserve to be treated as a subspecies or species V. (or D.) (lignarius) puncticeps.

They include moist to humid forests dominated by Nothofagus or Podocarpus, Polylepis woodland, and dryer areas with cacti and scattered trees.

[9] The striped woodpecker is a year-round resident throughout its range but for some elevational changes between winter and summer.

[9] The striped woodpecker usually forages alone but occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

It takes its food mainly by gleaning and probing but also pecks and hammers to reach below the substrate surface.

[9] The striped woodpecker is believed to nest between June and September in Bolivia and between October and January in Chile and Argentina.

The striped woodpecker makes a loud "peek" and also a "trill as [a] long-distance call".