Southern Woodpecker
| Southern Woodpecker | ||||||||||||
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Southern Woodpecker ( Colaptes rupicola ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Colaptes rupicola | ||||||||||||
| d'Orbigny , 1840 |
The southern woodpecker ( Colaptes rupicola ) is a species from the genus of the golden woodpecker ( Colaptes ) within the subfamily of the real woodpeckers . The approximately green woodpecker- sized woodpecker bird occurs in two well-differentiated subspecies in a relatively narrow zone in the central Andean highlands of South America. The largely socially living species builds nesting tubes in embankments or banks to adapt to their often treeless habitat; caves are only rarely found in trees or wooden buildings. The Andean woodpecker feeds mainly on larger insects that live on the ground. As of 2016, its existence is not considered endangered.
Appearance
The southern woodpecker is one of the largest species in its genus. With a body length of up to 32 centimeters and a maximum weight of just over 200 grams, it corresponds in size and mass to the green woodpecker, which is common in Central Europe. It is unmistakable in its living space.
The upper side is banded on a gray-brown background in different, lighter shades of brown and white. Towards the back, the trunk is often almost undrawn, cream-colored. The upper tail-coverts are almost white and closely banded with black. The top of the wings is dark brown; it has narrow yellow-brown banding. The top of the tail is black, only the outer feathers and the two central feathers are inconspicuous and thinly banded. The underside is cream-colored from the throat to the rump, and on the chest it has different intensities of orange-red. Blackish V-shaped markings and dark spots are irregularly cut into this basic color, which can also spread to the flanks and the neck region. The wing undersides are yellow-brown; they have slightly darker edges, and the wing tips are also darker. Some dark spots may appear on the under wing-coverts. The color of the underside of the tail is similar to that of the upper side; the outer plumes of the outer feathers often have a slightly yellowish tone.
The forehead, crown and neck are dark slate gray, almost black at the temples. Occasionally, the apex region is slightly reddish. The narrow and short black beard stripe is sometimes slightly reddish. The rest of the head, the sides of the neck and the throat are unmarked light yellow-brownish, usually a little darker on the ear covers. The pointed, narrow bill is very long, dark slate gray to black and clearly curved downwards. The eyes are lemon yellow, the legs and four-toed feet are variable in color from yellowish-green to flesh-colored.
The gender differences are very small. Females of the nominate form show neither the malar region nor the nape of the neck; they are also slightly lighter on average. Fledglings are paler than adults; juvenile and immature males usually show clear red inclusions on the neck. The vertex of both sexes is interspersed with yellowish feather tips. The underside is usually banded rather than spotted up to the flanks.
voice
The most common call is a polysyllabic whistle, which is very similar to the call of the big yellow thigh . Single or lined -up sounds like piik or kik are used as alarm calls or are used for intra-species communication. A loud, clear-sounding trill, falling in pitch, is often performed from an elevated position. It can last up to two and a half seconds and contain up to 70 individual elements. There are considerable differences in the various vocalizations between the subspecies.
distribution and habitat
The South Andean woodpecker inhabits a zone of different widths in the Andes from central Peru south to the extreme northeast of Chile and to northwest Argentina .
It lives in open grassland, forest edges, loose populations of Polylepis sp. only sparsely overgrown, high-montane scree slopes and montane bushland. It is common in the dry puna and less dense in the wetter páramo . Preferred habitats are grasslands interspersed with large stones or rocks. The breeding areas lie in a zone between 3000 and 5000 meters. Birds found below are likely to be non-breeders.
hikes
The species is a resident bird, but the high-altitude habitat forces the birds to occasionally visit lower-lying areas.
Food and subsistence
The southern woodpecker feeds on insects, large beetle and butterfly larvae that live on the ground are preferred. But it also eats adults , especially scarab beetles and moths.
The species only prey on the ground for food. It probes and pokes in the ground with its long beak, turns stones, but also digs up soil with its claws. Very often smaller groups of up to 10 animals can be observed foraging for food. Grassy landscape structures interspersed with rocks seem particularly attractive. In the event of danger or rest, the woodpeckers retreat to these lookout points. When foraging for food, the woodpeckers stride, less often they hop. The feeding grounds can often be located at a considerable distance from the nesting sites.
Breeding biology
As far as is known, the breeding season is between September and November in central Peru and between January and March in the more southern areas. However, broods may also take place outside of these times. The nest consists of a nest tube up to one meter long and the actual brood chamber. It is dug in embankments, banks or between rocks. South Andean woodpeckers very rarely hammer nest holes into trees. The species often breeds in loose colonies. The clutch consists of 2-4 eggs that are incubated by both parents. The nestlings are also looked after by both parents. Further information on the breeding biology is not available.
Systematics
The South Andean Woodpecker and the North Andean Woodpecker are the only two representatives of the genus Colaptes in the Andes. Two well-differentiated subspecies are described that differ both in their appearance and in terms of their vocalizations. Colaptes cinereicapillus was long considered a subspecies of the Andes woodpecker; however, since 2014 it has been viewed as an independent species as the North Andean woodpecker. The subspecies hybridize in the contact zones. Also between Colaptes r. puna and Colaptes cinereicapillus there is a contact zone in which mixed breeds occur.
- Colaptes rupicola rupicola d'Orbigny , 1840 : The nominate form described above colonizes the southern part of the distribution area. It hybridizes with C. r in the contact zones . puna .
- C. r. puna Cabanis , 1883 It is somewhat darker than the nominate form; both sexes wear a dark red neck mark. In females, the streak of beard is often only hinted at. The legs are greenish yellow. This subspecies connects to that of the nominate form to the north.
Existence and endangerment
The total distribution area is estimated at almost one million square kilometers. The species is not uncommon in some parts of the range that has so far been largely spared from human interference. Quantitative stock information is not available, and there is also no information on stock development. According to the IUCN, the southern woodpecker is currently not endangered.
Individual evidence
- ↑ IUCN data sheet
- ↑ a b Winkler et al. (1995) p. 323
- ↑ Der Andenspecht at BirdLife International, English, accessed on February 20, 2010
literature
- Hans Winkler , David A. Christie and David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge 1995, ISBN 0-395-72043-5 , pp. 124-125 and 323-324.
Web link
- Colaptes rupicola inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2013.