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Black Woodpecker - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 14:58, 19 October 2008 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (Vocalisation heading and links)


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Dryocopus martius
Photo by Pasha
Location: Moscow, Russia

Description

Identification

Distribution

Occurs from Europe to the Pacific coast of northern Asia. In the Western Palearctic the main breeding range is Scandinavia except the highest mountains and the far north and from Germany and Switzerland across Europe to the Urals and Caspian. In the south breeds as far as northern Greece but rare and local in Turkey. Scattered breeding populations in much of France and the Low Countries, the Pyrenees and Cantabrians, southern Apennines, the eastern Balkans and isolated in the Caucasus. Breeds across northern Asia from the Urals to Kamchatka, Sakhalin and China. In Japan breeds on Hokkaido and has bred in northern Honshu and there is an isolated population in western China.

Mainly resident but small numbers are seen at Scandinavian migration sites and juveniles disperse to some extent. Expanding range in north-western Europe, particularly in France and now found as far west as Brittany.

Vagrants have possibly reached Britain but despite now having been reported more than 80 times there are no accepted records. The English Channel does not seem to be an insurmountable barrier for this species as it has colonised the Danish island of Bornholm which lies a similar distance from the mainland as that between northern France and Kent.

Taxonomy

Nominate race occurs over most of range with khamensis in western China with blacker and glossier plumage.

Habitat

Mature forest, coniferous, deciduous or preferably mixed.

Behaviour

Nests in large tree, favours beech, pine or aspen, often drums from the highest tree in the area. In winter may occur in rather more open habitats. Frequently feeds on the ground.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Dryocopus martius (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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