Perhaps many people have been familiar with the conspicuous and noisy forest bird with a red cap on its head since childhood. Of course, we are talking about woodpeckers. They are heard from spring to late autumn, but in winter it is not easy to see the bird; the knocking is heard throughout the forest, but the forest orderly himself is usually not visible. Woodpeckers winter in hollows, which they make for themselves in a very intricate way; however, some birds fly south.
This interesting bird has long attracted the attention of scientists. There was a time when they were even considered a pest and tried to destroy it. But then they found out that the woodpecker is a forest orderly, so now he is often called the forest doctor. After all, he only hammers dry and larvae-infested trees, often saving them from death.
What types of woodpeckers are there?
This bird belongs to the Woodpecker family, which includes more than two hundred species. Their greatest diversity is observed in the forests of North America. And in our country there are just over ten species of woodpeckers.
The most famous of them are:
- Great Spotted Woodpecker. This bird is quite large, its wingspan sometimes reaches half a meter. The most common in European forests.
- The small spotted woodpecker, almost the size of a sparrow, is similar to it.
- Another large species often found in our forests is the yellow woodpecker, or black woodpecker. This bird is quite noisy and active, hollows out large hollows and eats many harmful insects.
- The green woodpecker looks quite unusual and beautiful. But he is very careful, so it is difficult to see him.
- The three-toed woodpecker is an unusual bird because it is missing one toe.
- The woodpecker also belongs to this family, although it is very different from other woodpeckers in behavior and appearance. She does not make hollows and does not know how to climb trees.
Description of the woodpecker bird
- Basically, all representatives of the woodpecker family are of medium size. The exceptions are the golden-fronted woodpecker and the lesser spotted woodpecker, which weigh only about 10 grams. And the largest representatives of this family are the woodpecker, common in our country, and the great Mullerian woodpecker, which is not found in our country. Its weight reaches 600 grams.
- The photo will show you how beautiful the woodpecker is. This bird always has black and white tones in its coloring, sometimes in the form of specks. And almost all members of the family have a red cap on their heads.
- The beak of these birds is thick, long and strong. They are capable of hollowing out a hollow in any tree, although they often choose diseased or soft wood trunks for this purpose.
- Woodpeckers have short legs with tenacious toes that help them climb tree trunks well. Usually there are four of them: two are directed forward, and two are directed backward. But there are also exceptions. The photo shows us an example of such an exception (three-toed woodpecker). This bird is also interesting because, when searching for food, it often removes bark from large areas of the tree, allowing other birds to easily find hidden insects.
Appearance
The woodpecker family consists of 30 species of birds. They live almost all over the globe, except Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Antarctica. The most common representative of this family in Russia is the spotted woodpecker. Whether he is a migratory bird or not, we will find out about this later, but for now let’s talk about his external features.
You can recognize a spotted woodpecker by its color: black and white body and wings, a red “cap” on its head and the same color feathers on the lower part of its tail. The bird's legs are short, not adapted for moving on the ground. But the structure of the limbs (thin, long, splayed fingers) allows the bird to press well against the tree trunk. The hooked, sharp claws cling well to the bark, which allows the bird to hold firmly on a vertical surface. The beak has a chisel shape. Thanks to this structure of this part of the body, the woodpecker easily breaks off particles of the trunk and chisels the wood. The speed of beak strikes reaches 10 times per second.
Where do woodpeckers live
This forest bird is found wherever there are trees. Most species live in forests and prefer solitude. But some can also live close to humans, for example, in city parks and squares. The only condition for the normal life of a woodpecker is the presence of trees, so it can be found almost anywhere on the planet. They are only absent in the Arctic region and on the islands near Australia. The woodpecker is a sedentary bird.
He rarely flies far from his place of residence. Typically, the area where the bird feeds is about 2 hectares. Very rarely, in search of food, individual individuals can move long distances, but in this case they do not return back. This feature is the answer to the question of whether the woodpecker is a migratory bird or not. Most of them are omnivores and easily tolerate frosts. Therefore, there is no point for them to fly away.
Reproduction and lifespan
Woodpeckers can breed once or twice a year. Throughout the season, the couple remains faithful to each other. The mating season of birds begins in February. It is at this time that their tapping on the trees is most heard. In this way, the male tries to attract the attention of the female, and the already formed pair protects their territory by knocking.
For housing, woodpeckers choose hollows made by their own beak. They try not to move into someone else's home. Birds change their hollows every year. Abandoned woodpecker holes are liked by other birds, who take up residence in them with great pleasure.
A pair of woodpeckers spends about 7 days to improve their home. As for woodpeckers, they feel great in dug holes. Usually their depth reaches up to 1 m.
The female lays from 2 to 9 eggs in a comfortable dwelling. The incubation period lasts about 18 days. After this, completely naked, blind and helpless chicks are born, which are cared for by both parents for about 5 weeks.
At an early age, woodpecker chicks are incredibly voracious. This quickly gives them strength. It takes the chicks about a month to get stronger and fly. After this, they get out of the nest and lead an independent lifestyle like adults. The bird's lifespan is 8-12 years.
In the photo there is a gray-haired woodpecker
Woodpecker lifestyle
It is very interesting to observe how various birds of the forest behave. The woodpecker is quite unpretentious; he is not used to sitting idle. For normal life, this bird needs trees. The most favorable conditions for their reproduction exist near rivers and other bodies of water, especially in rainy summers.
At this time, the wood is exposed to various putrefactive processes and fungal diseases, as well as insect attacks. These are the trees that the woodpecker loves. This bird not only hollows them in search of food, but every year it prepares a new hollow for itself. True, not all species of woodpeckers can do this. For example, whirligigs use ready-made hollows. A feature of the woodpeckers' way of life is their amazing ability to quickly climb a tree trunk.
Nature has endowed them with short legs with tenacious toes and a strong tail for these purposes. Even woodpecker chicks begin to climb the trunk before they fly. The lifestyle of this bird does not change even in winter. To answer the question of whether a woodpecker is a migratory bird or not, you just need to go to the forest or park on a quiet frosty day. The frequent rattling sound in the air is evidence that these birds remain in our area to spend the winter.
Lifestyle
These birds prefer a solitary existence. Only during the nesting period do they try to create pairs. There are woodpeckers, for example, acorn woodpeckers, that prefer to live in flocks.
As for the voices of birds, they differ depending on the species. But for the most part, woodpeckers do not like to make sounds. They communicate through fractions struck by birds on wood. Its sounds vary depending on the type of wood, humidity in the air and many other factors.
Listen to the knocking and singing of a woodpecker
With the help of these sounds, birds separate their territories and also attract the attention of the opposite sex. Therefore, the often heard knocking of woodpeckers on wood indicates that the birds have entered the mating season.
The flight of birds is easy and relaxed. They just don’t use this skill as often. Basically, they are content to flutter between nearby trees and crawl along trunks, resting on their hard tails.
In the photo there is a green woodpecker
Danger does not force birds to quickly flee from a place. They move to the opposite side of the tree and calmly watch what is happening from there. Only a very close distance between it and the predator forces the bird to fly away.
What does a woodpecker eat?
What bird can stay for the winter in our climate? Only the one that is omnivorous. Yes, woodpeckers can eat a lot. Most often, of course, they feed on insects, which they hatch from under the bark of trees. To get them, the woodpecker uses a long tongue, which is often twice the size of its beak. In addition, it is sticky and has sharp jagged edges. With their help, the woodpecker can get insects from narrow passages in the wood.
In large quantities, this bird destroys insects and their larvae harmful to trees. Woodpeckers also eat various caterpillars, termites, ants and even snails. In the cold season, these birds feed mainly on the seeds of trees, most often conifers. But on occasion they can eat berries and any fruits. In times of famine, many birds move closer to human habitation and feed on food waste.
Why is a woodpecker interesting?
- This is the only bird that has an ear for music. Woodpeckers can knock on wood not only for the purpose of obtaining food or making a nest. Sometimes you can watch a bird hammering on a dry branch and listening.
- The woodpecker's tongue is amazing. In some individuals it can reach a length of 10 centimeters. It is sticky, with sharp serrations, onto which, like hooks, the woodpecker attaches insects from under the bark of a tree. With its help, he can also feast on fruits.
- The woodpecker is one of the few birds that cannot walk on the ground. Their legs and tail are adapted only for climbing trees.
So, we have presented a description of the bird. The woodpecker is very beautiful. The bright red cap and variegated color make these birds an adornment to any forest.
Is the woodpecker a migratory bird or not? We are looking for answers to these and other questions
Each of us had the opportunity to hear the sound of a woodpecker. When you watch this nimble multi-colored bird, you are amazed how such a small body has enough strength to chisel a tree with such speed and zeal. What do we know about this feathered worker? Is the woodpecker a migratory bird or not? Where does he live? What does it eat other than insects? How does it reproduce? The answers to all these questions, as well as photographs of a beautiful and useful bird, are presented in the article. Happy reading and viewing!
What benefits do woodpeckers bring?
These birds were previously considered forest pests, and even attempts were made to exterminate them. But then it turned out that woodpeckers only peck at sick and old trees infested with insects. By doing this they save the forest from the spread of pests. In addition, woodpeckers make themselves a new hollow every year. And squirrels and other birds settle in their old homes.
Woodpeckers help forest inhabitants not only by providing shelter. Some species of these birds, when obtaining food, remove entire sections of bark from trees, thereby exposing insect passages. And it’s easier for other birds to get them. And now the woodpecker is considered one of the most useful forest birds.
Interesting fact
In a conversation about whether a woodpecker is a migratory bird or not, how this representative of the bird world lives and what it eats, I would like to remember another of its names - forest orderly. Why is it called that way? Because it destroys harmful insects - each of us will say. The answer is correct, but not entirely complete. The woodpecker only pecks at sick trees. You won't see it on young, healthy plants. On a living green tree, he will only hammer in the place where it is sick. In this way, the bird eliminates the source of the disease and protects the plant from further damage. Here he is, a little feathered forest orderly!
Sources:
https://pticadom.ru/dyatel-ptica-interesnaya-nepredskazuemaya-i-krasivaya.html https://www.syl.ru/article/195333/new_dyatel—ptitsa-lesnaya-opisanie-foto-dyatel—pereletnaya-ptitsa -ili-net https://fb.ru/article/143756/dyatel-pereletnaya-ptitsa-ili-net-ischem-otvet-na-eti-i-drugie-voprosyi
