Antillean piculet
| Antillean Piculet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Subfamily: | Nesoctitinae
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| Genus: | Nesoctites Hargitt, 1890
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| Species: | N. micromegas
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| Binomial name | |
| Nesoctites micromegas (Sundevall, 1866)
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The Antillean Piculet (Nesoctites micromegas) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is monotypic within the genus Nesoctites. The species is evolutionarily distinct from the other piculets and is afforded its own subfamily.[2] It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
The Antillean Piculet occupies a number of different habitats within Hispaniola, including humid and dry Pinus and broadleaf forests, as well as semi-arid scrubland and thorn-forest.[3] It will also occupy stands of mangrove forest and occasionally orchards and plantations. It occurs from sea-level to 1800 m, although in pine forests it is more common below 300 m. Within this habitat it prefers dense undergrowth.
The species is a small woodpecker, although it is twice as large as any of the other piculets.[3] The male has a yellow crown with a red spot in the centre. The plumage of the back, neck and wings is olive green, and the breast, throat and belly is off-white with streaks and spots.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Nesoctites micromegas. Downloaded on 27 July 2007.
- ^ Benz, Brett W.; Robbins, Mark B. & Peterson, A. Townsend (2006): Evolutionary history of woodpeckers and allies (Aves: Picidae): Placing key taxa on the phylogenetic tree. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40: 389–399. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.021
- ^ a b Winkler H & D. Christied (2002) "Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)" in el Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (2002). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Lynx Edicions. Pg. 436 ISBN 8487334377
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