The Tawny Piculet is endemic to a small area of north-east Brazil. It is known from only about 10 sites there and it is classified as Vulnerable by Birdlife International.

The female, shown here in photos 1 to 3, has rich tawny-brown underparts with hints of pale streaks on the breast. Upperparts are brown while the crown is black with white spots. The brown ear-coverts are well shown in the first photo. The male,seen here in photos 4 to 7, is similar but with red on the forecrown.