Woodpeckers
Member of the Picidae Family: Sapsuckers ... Flickers
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Attracting Woodpeckers ... Nesting / Breeding ... Woodpecker Species
Woodpeckers are found worldwide and include numerous species, usually numbered at 218 (including the Ivory-billed).
Some woodpeckers and wrynecks in the order Piciformes have zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. These feet, though adapted for clinging to a vertical surface, can be used for grasping or perching. Several species have only three toes.
The long tongue found in some woodpeckers can be darted forward to capture insects.
Woodpeckers gained their English name because of the habit of some species of tapping and pecking noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. This is both a means of communication to signal possession of territory to their rivals, and a method of locating and accessing insect larvae found under the bark or in long winding tunnels in the tree. The woodpecker first locates a tunnel by tapping on the trunk. Once a tunnel is found, the woodpecker chisels out wood till it makes an opening into the tunnel. Then it worms its tongue into the tunnel to try to locate the grub. The tongue of the woodpecker is long and ends in a barb. With its tongue the woodpecker skewers the grub and draws it out of the trunk. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Each breeding season, woodpeckers will take a week or two to dig a new hole in a living or dying tree to build their nest. The nest is about 6 to 8 inches (15 - 45 cm) below the opening. They sometimes use existing holes in stumps, poles or posts located in woodland areas and parks. Some woodpeckers will also use nest boxes provided in suburban locations.
These nests are lined only with wood chips and hold 2-8 white eggs laid by the females. Because the nests are out of sight, they are not visible to predators and eggs do not need to be camouflaged. Cavities created by woodpeckers are also reused as nests by other birds, such as some ducks and owls, and mammals, such as tree squirrels
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The easiest way to attract Woodpeckers to your property is to provide them with the foods they love! Woodpecker Mixes, as well as protein-rich cakes, dehydrated insects and nuts, are all winners. Often, woodpeckers will store food by wedging it deep into crevices. They prefer to forage in deciduous trees, but will also forage on the ground. Males tend to forage along trunks and large branches while females target slimmer, higher branches. If you don’t mind having a "wild" look to your property, consider leaving a dead tree standing or incorporating a fallen log into a woodland-style garden scene. These hunting grounds will attract red-bellies as well as other exciting woodpeckers. And as always, make sure you have a good supply of water available. |
Woodpecker Species:
- Acorn Woodpeckers
- American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis): Mangoverde
- Arabian Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos dorae): The Arabian Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker found in the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, in areas of montane forest. Though described to science by Bates and Kinnear, the scientific name is said to be named by St. John Philby after a woman he was fond of. (Source: Wikipedia.org) ... Related Web Resources: BirdLife International
- Arizona Woodpeckers
- Banded Woodpecker (Picus mineaceus): Mangoverde
- Bearded Woodpecker (Dendropicos namaquus): Mangoverde
- Bennett's Woodpecker (Campethera
bennettii): Mangoverde
- Black-backed Woodpeckers
- Black-cheeked Woodpecker
- Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius)
- Black-rumped Flameback aka Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker
- Black Woodpecker
- Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens): Mangoverde
- Blood-colored Woodpecker (Veniliornis sanguineus): Mangoverde
- Brown-backed Woodpecker (Dendropicos obsoletus): Mangoverde
- Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus): Distribution: India ... Related Web Resources: http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Brown-fronted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos auriceps): Related Web Resources: http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Buff-necked Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tukki): Mangoverde
- Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis): Mangoverde
- Buff-spotted Woodpecker (Campethera nivosa): Mangoverde
- Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Checkered Woodpecker (Picoides mixtus): The Checkered Woodpecker is found in eastern South America.
This bird is about 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) in length. This woodpecker is black and white. The male has a red mark on the back of its head ... Related Web Resources: Arthur Grosset ... Mangoverde
- Checker-throated Woodpecker (Picus mentalis): Mangoverde
- Chestnut-colored Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus): Mangoverde
- Chestnut / Elegant Woodpecker
- Cinnamon Woodpecker (Celeus loricatus): Oiseaux.net
- Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Cream-backed Woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon): Mangoverde
- Cream-colored Woodpecker (Celeus flavus): The Cream-colored Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker native to South America, from Colombia and the Guianas to Peru, Bolivia, and the eastern part of Brazil. It is colored creamy yellow, except for the wingtips and tail, which are much darker. Males also have dark rings around their eyes. It has a large crest that is always raised. It eats mainly tree ants, although it does eat other insects and some fruits. It is not known how the Cream-colored Woodpecker nests, although it is believed that they nest in holes in trees. They do not migrate. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org) ... Related Web Resources: Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Crimson-bellied Woodpecker (Campephilus haematogaster): Mangoverde
- Crimson-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos cathpharius): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo)
- Crimson-crested Woodpecker
- Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (Piculus rivolii): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus): Mangoverde
- Darjeeling Woodpecker (Dendrocopos darjellensis): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo)
- Downy Woodpeckers
- Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus): Mangoverde
- Fine-spotted Woodpecker
- Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) / Another Photo ... Mangoverde
- Gila Woodpeckers
- Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
- Golden-naped Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysauchen): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Golden-olive Woodpecker
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker (Campethera abingoni): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Golden-winged Woodpeckers: Golden-winged Woodpeckers
- Greater Flameback aka Large Golden-backed Woodpecker or Malherbe's Golden-backed Woodpecker
- Greater Yellownape (Picus flavinucha): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros): Mangoverde
- Green Woodpecker aka Yaffle
- Gray-and-buff Woodpecker (Hemicircus concretus): Mangoverde
- Grey-capped Woodpecker aka Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Gray-faced Woodpecker (Picus canus): Mangoverde
- Grey-headed Woodpecker
- Grey Woodpecker
- Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus): Mangoverde
- Guadeloupe Woodpecker (Melanerpes herminieri): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Guayaquil Woodpecker (Campephilus gayaquilensis): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Heart-spotted Woodpecker (Hemicircus canente): http://www.kolkatabirds.com
- Hairy Woodpeckers
- Himalayan Flameback (Dinopium shorii): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Himalayan Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Hispaniolan Woodpecker (Melanerpes striatus): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Hoffmann's Woodpecker
- Imperial Woodpecker
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker
- Japanese Woodpecker aka Japanese Green Woodpecker(Picus awokera): Japanese Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker similar and closely related to the Green Woodpecker, but endemic to Japan. This species reaches about 30cm in length, with bright green wings and tail, a red or black mustache and crown (as opposed to the black face of the Green Woodpecker), gray head, neck, and chest, and white underparts with black markings. Japanese Woodpecker is divided into at least two subspecies: P. a. awokera, the nominate subspecies, found on Honshu, and P. a. horii, native to Kyushu. The binomial is a reference to the Japanese name of the species, aogera. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
- Jamaican Woodpecker (Melanerpes radiolatus): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Laced Woodpecker (Picus vittatus): Mangoverde
- Ladder-backed Woodpeckers
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- Lesser Yellownape
- Levaillant’s Woodpecker aka Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker
- Lewis's Woodpeckers
- Lineated Woodpeckers
- Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus): Mangoverde
- Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus
magellanicus): Mangoverde
- Middle Spotted Woodpecker
- Nubian Woodpecker (Campethera nubica): Mangoverde
- Nuttall's Woodpecker
- Okinawa Woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii): The Okinawa Woodpecker is endemic to the island of Okinawa in Japan. It is the only member of the genus Sapheopipo.
This is a medium-sized (31cm), dark woodpecker. It is dark brown in colour with reddish tips to its feathers. It has white spots on the primaries. The head is a paler brown, with a dark red crown on the male and a blackish-brown on the female.
Their breeding habitat is subtropical, evergreen broad-leaved forest of at least 30 years old, with tall trees of more than 20 cm in diameter. Nesting is between late February and May.
This woodpecker is critically endangered. It has a single tiny, declining population which is threatened by habitat loss of mature forest due to logging, dam construction, agriculture and golf course developments. The current population is estimated at less than 600.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org)
- Olive-backed Woodpecker (Dinopium rafflesii): Mangoverde
- Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus): Mangoverde
- Orange-backed Woodpecker (Reinwardtipicus validus): Mangoverde
- Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis): Mangoverde
- Philippine Woodpecker (Dendrocopos maculatus): Oiseaux.net
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki): Mangoverde
- Puerto Rican Woodpecker
- Red-bellied Woodpeckers
- Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
- Red-crowned Woodpecker
- Red-headed Woodpeckers
- Red-necked Woodpecker (Campephilus rubricollis): Mangoverde
- Red-rumped Woodpecker
- Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus): Mangoverde
- Ruddy Woodpeckers: Belize
- Rufous Woodpeckers (Celeus brachyurus): The Rufous Woodpecker is a brown woodpecker found in South Asia. It is medium sized with black vermiculations on its rufous body and a dark eye stripe. The species has a weak and slightly curved bill. It builds its nests within the nests of ants of the species Crematogaster. (Source: Wikipedia.org) ... Related Web Resources: http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos hyperythrus): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus): Mangoverde
- Scaly-breasted Woodpecker (Celeus grammicus): Mangoverde
- Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus): Mangoverde
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Veniliornis fumigatus): Mangoverde
- Spot-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula): Oiseaux.net ... Mangoverde
- Spotted Woodpeckers: Great Spotted Woodpecker: Lesser
Spotted Woodpeckers (Birds of Britain)
- Sulawesi Woodpecker (Dendrocopos temminckii): Oiseaux.net
- Streak-throated Woodpecker (Picus xanthopygaeus): The Streak-throated Woodpecker is found in South Asia. Related Web Resources: http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Stripe-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos atratus): http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Striped Woodpeckers (Picoides lignarius): The Striped Woodpecker is found in southwestern South America. Related Web Resources: Avesdechile.cl
- Strickland's Woodpecker
- Syrian Woodpecker
- Tawny-winged Woodpeckers: Belize
- Three-toed Woodpeckers
- West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris): Mangoverde
- White-backed Woodpecker
- White-bellied Woodpeckers aka Great Black Woodpecker
(Dryocopus javensis): The White-bellied Woodpecker is found in evergreen forests in southwestern and central India. They are found in forests in the Western Ghats. They are the largest of the Indian Woodpeckers and nest in large dead trees, often beside rivers. The call of this species is a loud 'Kyaaw' and like other woodpeckers it drums on wood but sounds much louder than those of smaller species. (Source: Wikipedia.org) ... Related Web Resources: http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- White-headed Woodpeckers
- White-naped Woodpecker
- White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster): Mangoverde
- White-throated Woodpecker (Piculus leucolaemus): Mangoverde
- White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus): The White Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker (Family Picidae) found in South America. This woodpecker is a native of the grasslands of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. This bird is particularly beneficial because it consumes the irapuá bee, Melipona ruficrus, a pest of citrus growers. (Source: Wikipedia.org) ... Related Web Resources: Photo by Arthur Grosset / Mangoverde ... Arthur Grosset Photos & Information ... Mangoverde
- Yellow-browed Woodpecker (Piculus aurulentus): Mangoverde
- Yellow-crowned aka Mahratta Woodpeckers
(Dendrocopos mahrattensis): The Yellow-crowned Woodpecker is a small woodpecker found in South Asia.
... Related Web Resources: Oiseaux.net ... http://www.kolkatabirds.com (Photo) ... Mangoverde
- Yellow-throated Woodpecker (Piculus flavigula): Mangoverde
- Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons): Mangoverde
- Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus): Mangoverde
