The woodpeckers are an extensive family of the order Piciformes, of which 218 species are currently known. Except for Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar, woodpeckers populate all the forested latitudes of the planet.
Its size ranges between 20 and 59 cm. They have a characteristic beak shape that makes them unmistakable among other bird species. They have a very long and sticky tongue that curls inside a cranial cavity. This cushions the forcefulness of the blows it delivers to the logs when searching for food.
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Threatened Woodpeckers in the Iberian Peninsula
In Spain and Portugal there are 8 species of woodpeckers.
Two of the species are highly endangered. The median billfish, Dendocropos medius, is one of the species in serious danger of extinction in the peninsula. It is also found in Europe and the Middle East.
The other threatened species is the beautiful black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, an elegant black woodpecker with a red tuft on his head. It is a large bird measuring up to 47 cm, and with a wingspan of up to 68 cm. It is the largest among the peninsular woodpeckers. A meticulous follow-up of these birds is carried out to ensure that their population rises. We can see it in the next image:
Woodpeckers of the Iberian Peninsula
Fortunately, there are 6 more species on the Iberian Peninsula whose concern for the species is less.
- The Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, is the best known of the peninsular woodpeckers. Thanks to its powerful beak and wide feeding spectrum, this bird has adapted to multiple forest habitats. It has been installed in both mountain forests and riparian forests. Apart from the usual larvae and berries that other species consume, this bird preys on insects, eggs and chicks of other birds. This species also inhabits North Africa and Eurasia.
- The white-backed beak, Dendocropos leucotos, is a species with low population density in the peninsula. It is located in the Pyrenees mountain range. It is also found throughout Eurasia.
- The lesserbill, Dendrocopos minor, is the smallest species among the various European woodpeckers. This species also proliferates in North Africa and Eurasia.
- El torcecuellos, Jynx torquilla. Its great flexibility with its neck and a peculiar snort when it feels threatened are the hallmarks of this species. It also resides throughout Africa and Eurasia.
- The Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis, is a woodpecker among these peninsular species that is expanding, as it adapts to the urban wooded areas.
- The Iberian Woodpecker, Picus sharpei, is endemic to the forests of the Iberian Peninsula.
In the image we can see a twist:
Woodpeckers in Colombia
In Colombia 4 species of woodpecker are cataloged. These birds apart from their characteristic beaks used to drill the wood, are characterized by their sinuous, undulating flight. They flap their wings to raise their position in the air, collect the wings descending, and immediately resume the elevating flapping. Another common characteristic is the stiffness of their tail feathers, in which they rest against the trunks to hammer harder at them.
- The oak woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivuros, is a very common species in Colombia. Inhabits oak, pine, and sequoia forests. It feeds on acorns, pine nuts, fruits and berries. Also of various insects that it catches on the fly, and if it descends to the ground it feeds on ants. These birds sometimes drill into the trunks to feed on the sugary and energetic sap. It is a common practice in many other woodpeckers. Sometimes eats lizards. But the flying ants are a main source of food.
- The freckled buchi, Chrysuptilus punctigula, is a small woodpecker that sometimes bores its nest in thick bamboo canes.
- The smoked woodpecker, Leuconotopicus fumigatus, is distributed from Mexico to Argentina. This small bird has a remarkable gender dimorphism, since the males are completely satin black; while the females are brown. There are 4 subspecies.
- The Royal Woodpecker or Red-naped Woodpecker, Colaptes melanochloros, inhabits from Central America to Argentina. It even spreads through urban parks.
Woodpeckers in Argentina
Argentina is very rich in woodpeckers, as it has 28 cataloged species. Here we will show you some examples.
- The pitigüe or pitian woodpecker, Colaptes pitius, is the most widespread species of woodpecker in Argentina. It measures about 32 cm and its habitat is sparse forests and jungle perimeters, avoiding entering the jungle. Only exceptionally does it settle inside trunks, as is the case with most Piciformes. He prefers to dig deep holes in ravines, and steep slopes. It also bores nests in cacti.
- The giant woodpecker, Campephilus magellanicus, lives in the Andean-Patagonian zone of Chile and Argentina. It measures up to 38 cm., and weighs up to 363 gr. The females are smaller. The year 2012 was democratically chosen as the Provincial Bird of Tierra del Fuego by the Fuegians.
- The Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Celeus flavescens, is a bird that lives in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. It lives both in jungle areas and in savannahs. It has 3 subspecies adapted to the territory. He sports a nice yellow pompadour on his head. It basically feeds on termites and often nests in trees that have arboreal termite mounds.
In the image we can see a yellow-crested woodpecker:
Woodpeckers in Mexico
In Mexico, as in both American continents and its isthmus, different species of woodpeckers live.
- The golden woodpecker, Colaptes chrysoides, is also called the California woodpecker. Its distribution covers northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has a size of about 29 cm. It lives in the deserts of Yuma, Sonora and in parts of the Colorado desert; also in areas of the California peninsula. It often nests in holes that it digs in the large cactus saguaro In order not to lose moisture through the hole made by the bird, the cactus secretes a sap that coats the interior of the hollow, hardening and waterproofing the cavity. This process is called saguaro boot.
- The Mexican beak, Dryobates scalaris, also often nests in cacti. It inhabits from North America to Central America. It has 9 subspecies.
- The Black-faced Woodpecker, Melanerpes pucherani, inhabits from Mexico to Peru.
- The Arizona beak, Leconoutopicus arizonae, is a bird native to southern Arizona that is also found in desert foothills from Sonora, Mexico. 2 subspecies are recognized.
In the image we can see a Mexican peak: