The Blond-crested Woodpecker is distributed throughout eastern Brazil from the south bank of the Amazon to Rio Grande do Sul and into adjacent Paraguay and Argentina. It is found in a variety of habitats from humid forest to savannah and scrub.

The most striking feature is the blond crest which contrasts with the rest of the upperparts which are black with narrow white or buff stripes. The male has a red malar and cheek band, as seen in photos 2 and 3, while the female, seen in photo 1, has black streaks in their place. Photo 4 shows an immature male.

It feeds mainly on ants and termites although fruit is also eaten regularly. It excavates its nest in ant nests up trees.