• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Eurasian Green Woodpecker" - BirdForum Opus

m
(more details)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Green_Woodpecker2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male<br />Photo by {{user|NIGHTJAR1|NIGHTJAR1}}<br/>Photo taken: [[Nottinghamshire]], UK]]
+
[[Image:Green_Woodpecker2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male. [[Nottinghamshire]], UK<br />Photo by {{user|NIGHTJAR1|NIGHTJAR1}}]]
 
;[[:Category:Picus|Picus]] viridis
 
;[[:Category:Picus|Picus]] viridis
 
'''Includes: Iberian Green Woodpecker'''
 
'''Includes: Iberian Green Woodpecker'''
Line 14: Line 14:
 
'''Juvenile''': duller and has whitish barred underparts
 
'''Juvenile''': duller and has whitish barred underparts
 
====Variation====
 
====Variation====
The Iberian race ''P. v. sharpei'' which lacks the black mask and moustache. It is now accepted as full species by Gill and Donsker.
+
The Iberian race ''P. v. sharpei'' which lacks the black mask and moustache. It is now accepted as full species by IOC.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
====Similar Species====
 
====Similar Species====
[[Grey-headed Woodpecker]]
+
[[Levaillant's Woodpecker]], [[Grey-headed Woodpecker]]
[[Image:Eurasian_Green_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Sandpiper|Sandpiper}}<br/>Photo taken: Colwick, [[Nottinghamshire]], UK]]
+
[[Image:Eurasian_Green_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female. Colwick, [[Nottinghamshire]], UK<br />Photo by {{user|Sandpiper|Sandpiper}}]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Generally common and widespread over much of range. Breeds in [[Britain]] north to central [[Scotland]], and from [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to about 50 degrees east in [[Russia]], also in [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]] and [[Pakistan]]. In the north found in coastal and southern parts of [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]]. Occurs south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern [[Spain]] to [[Greece]] and [[Turkey (country)|Turkey]] and also found in the Caucasus.  
+
Generally common and widespread over much of its range; scarce, but increasing, on the northern fringes of its range. Breeds in [[Britain]] north to central [[Scotland]], and from [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to about 50 degrees east in [[Russia]], also in the [[Caucasus]], [[Iran]] and southwesternmost [[Turkmenistan]]. In the north found in coastal and southern parts of [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]]. Occurs south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern [[Spain]] to [[Greece]] and [[Turkey (country)|Turkey]].
  
 
Resident throughout range with only short-distance dispersal but may move further in the east as a result of more severe winter weather.  
 
Resident throughout range with only short-distance dispersal but may move further in the east as a result of more severe winter weather.  
Vagrants have been recorded in [[Ireland]] and [[Finland]], [[Malta]] and the [[Balearic Islands|Balearics]].
+
Vagrants have been recorded in [[Ireland]], [[Finland]], [[Malta]] and the [[Balearic Islands|Balearics]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
There are 4<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
+
There are three or four subspecies, depending on authority:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
*Nominate race is found over much of range ([[Britain]] south to [[France]], Alps, northern [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Romania]])
+
*Nominate ''P. v. viridis'' is found over much of range, from [[Britain]] south to [[France]], the Alps, northern [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Romania]].
*''karelini'': which is duller and greyer than the nominate
+
*''P. v. karelini'': which is duller and greyer than the nominate, occurs in [[Italy]], southeast [[Europe]] east to central [[Asia]].
:*[[Italy]], South-East [[Europe]] and South-West [[Asia]].
+
*''P. v. innominatus'' is found in southwestern [[Iran]]. A further population described from southeast Iran as ''P. v. bampurensis'' is of uncertain status, and may be extinct.<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>
*The Iberian race ''sharpei'' is more distinct; the face is much greyer with black confined to lores and little or no barring on the underparts, moustachial stripe of male has much more red.
+
*The Iberian race ''P''. (''v''.) ''sharpei'' is more distinct; the face is much greyer with black confined to lores and little or no barring on the underparts, moustachial stripe of male has much more red. It occurs in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and the Pyrénées, and in many respects is intermediate between typical Green Woodpecker and Levaillant's Woodpecker.<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>
:*[[Iberian Peninsula]] and the Pyrénées
+
[[Image:Iberian Green Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, subspecies ''P. v. sharpei'', [[Clot de Galvany]], Spain<br />Photo by {{user|Mark+Etheridge|Mark Etheridge}}]]
[[Image:Iberian Green Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Male, subspecies ''Sharpei''<br />Photo by {{user|Mark+Etheridge|Mark Etheridge}}<br />Photo taken: [[Clot de Galvany]], Spain]]
 
*''innominatus'' is found in western [[Iran]] and ''bampurensis'' in Baluchistan.
 
  
''bampurensis'' is generally considered invalid
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Deciduous or mixed woodland, generally in more lowland areas than [[Grey-headed Woodpecker]]Common in parks and large gardens, and also open areas with scattered trees, especially in winter.   
+
Deciduous or mixed woodland, generally in more lowland areas than Grey-headed Woodpecker.  Can be common in parks and large gardens, and also open areas with scattered trees, especially in winter.   
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
Usually solitary or in pairs, feeds mainly on the ground, often 'star-gazes'.
 
Usually solitary or in pairs, feeds mainly on the ground, often 'star-gazes'.
Line 44: Line 41:
 
They drill out holes in trees for the nest.
 
They drill out holes in trees for the nest.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
Insects are captured by a rapid outward flick of the long tongue, gummed to its tip by sticky saliva. Green Woodpecker likes very much to eat ants. So, birds from this species can be seen searching and eating ants on the ground (a behaviour not very common for European woodpeckers).
+
Insects, primarily ants, which are captured by a rapid outward flick of the long tongue, gummed to its tip by sticky saliva. Birds from this species can often be seen searching for and eating ants on the ground (a behaviour shared by several other woodpeckers, including [[:Category:Picus|other green woodpeckers]], [[:Category:Jynx|wrynecks]], and [[:Category:Colaptes|flickers]]).
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
'''Call''': A loud ''plue, plue, plue'', which sounds like a laugh, or "yaffle", from which it gets the country name
+
'''Call''': A loud ''plue, plue, plue'', which sounds like a laugh, or "yaffle", from which it gets the country name. The alarm call is a truncated variant of the advertising call.
  
 
<flashmp3>Picus viridis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Picus viridis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Picus viridis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Picus viridis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
[[Image:MGL7741 1-bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Mahsleb|Mahsleb}}<br />[[Minsmere]], [[Suffolk]], October 2012]]
+
[[Image:MGL7741 1-bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female; [[Minsmere]], [[Suffolk]], October 2012.<br />Photo by {{user|Mahsleb|Mahsleb}}]]
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker13V3.5}}#Avibase
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker13V3.5}}#{{Ref-HBWVol7}}#Avibase
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
 
#AvianWeb
 
#AvianWeb

Revision as of 17:25, 19 July 2014

Male. Nottinghamshire, UK
Photo by NIGHTJAR1
Picus viridis

Includes: Iberian Green Woodpecker

Identification

30-36 cm

  • Dark green upper parts
  • Yellowish-green under parts
  • Red crown and nape
  • Black face mask and moustachial stripe
  • Yellow rump
  • Black and white outer primaries
  • Grey bill and feet

Sexes similar except male has a crimson centre to the moustache
Juvenile: duller and has whitish barred underparts

Variation

The Iberian race P. v. sharpei which lacks the black mask and moustache. It is now accepted as full species by IOC.[2]

Similar Species

Levaillant's Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker

Female. Colwick, Nottinghamshire, UK
Photo by Sandpiper

Distribution

Generally common and widespread over much of its range; scarce, but increasing, on the northern fringes of its range. Breeds in Britain north to central Scotland, and from Iberia and France east to about 50 degrees east in Russia, also in the Caucasus, Iran and southwesternmost Turkmenistan. In the north found in coastal and southern parts of Norway and Sweden, Poland and the Baltic States. Occurs south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern Spain to Greece and Turkey.

Resident throughout range with only short-distance dispersal but may move further in the east as a result of more severe winter weather. Vagrants have been recorded in Ireland, Finland, Malta and the Balearics.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are three or four subspecies, depending on authority:[1]

  • Nominate P. v. viridis is found over much of range, from Britain south to France, the Alps, northern Yugoslavia and Romania.
  • P. v. karelini: which is duller and greyer than the nominate, occurs in Italy, southeast Europe east to central Asia.
  • P. v. innominatus is found in southwestern Iran. A further population described from southeast Iran as P. v. bampurensis is of uncertain status, and may be extinct.[3]
  • The Iberian race P. (v.) sharpei is more distinct; the face is much greyer with black confined to lores and little or no barring on the underparts, moustachial stripe of male has much more red. It occurs in the Iberian Peninsula and the Pyrénées, and in many respects is intermediate between typical Green Woodpecker and Levaillant's Woodpecker.[3]
Male, subspecies P. v. sharpei, Clot de Galvany, Spain
Photo by Mark Etheridge

Habitat

Deciduous or mixed woodland, generally in more lowland areas than Grey-headed Woodpecker. Can be common in parks and large gardens, and also open areas with scattered trees, especially in winter.

Behaviour

Usually solitary or in pairs, feeds mainly on the ground, often 'star-gazes'.

Flight

Markedly undulating flight, caused by prolonged closure of wings.

Breeding

They drill out holes in trees for the nest.

Diet

Insects, primarily ants, which are captured by a rapid outward flick of the long tongue, gummed to its tip by sticky saliva. Birds from this species can often be seen searching for and eating ants on the ground (a behaviour shared by several other woodpeckers, including other green woodpeckers, wrynecks, and flickers).

Vocalisation

Call: A loud plue, plue, plue, which sounds like a laugh, or "yaffle", from which it gets the country name. The alarm call is a truncated variant of the advertising call.

<flashmp3>Picus viridis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

Female; Minsmere, Suffolk, October 2012.
Photo by Mahsleb

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2013. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.5). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334375
  4. Avibase
  5. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
  6. AvianWeb

Recommended Citation

External Links


Back
Top