Arizona Woodpecker
| Arizona Woodpecker | ||||||||||||
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Arizona Woodpecker ( Leuconotopicus arizonae ), male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Leuconotopicus arizonae | ||||||||||||
| ( Hargitt , 1886) |
The Arizona Woodpecker ( Leuconotopicus arizonae , Syn. : Picoides arizonae ) is a member of the genus Leuconotopicus within the subfamily of the Real woodpecker (Picinae). Along with the Strickland woodpecker and the soot woodpecker, it is the only representative of the genus with largely brown plumage. Until a few years ago, the Arizona woodpecker was considered a subspecies of the Strickland woodpecker ( Leuconopicus stricklandi , syn .: Picoides stricklandi ), whose distribution area is in some isolated regions in southern and eastern central Mexico. Arizona woodpeckers inhabit two subspecies of dry, submontane and montane oak and oak-pine forests as well as woody trees that accompany rivers in the south of the USA south to the western part of central Mexico, where they mainly feed on beetle larvae, but occasionally also on fruits and seeds. They breed in self-made nesting holes, which they build in dead trees and occasionally in agaves .
Little is known about the population situation of the species, but according to the IUCN the Arizona pecker is considered 
(= least concern - not endangered).
Appearance
With a maximum size of 20 centimeters and a weight of around 50 grams, the Arizona woodpecker is a rather smaller representative of the North American woodpecker; it almost reaches the size of the domestic middle woodpecker . In its area of distribution, it is the only woodpecker species with predominantly brown plumage with largely no drawings on the upper side.
The forehead, crown, neck and the entire back are uniformly brown, the ear covers are also colored; the streaks are dark brown to blackish. The rest of the face, the side of the neck and the throat are dirty white. Occasionally there are some white plumage in the shoulder and back area. The bottom is individually very variable; it can be very light, almost white with only a few brown spots, but also dense brown spots or banded on a light background. Well-worn plumage is usually darker on the underside. The tail is black-brown, the outer control feathers are banded in white. The wings of the hand also have such a banding, which can be clearly seen in flight, but only indistinctly in seated individuals. The long beak is black-brown and the iris is dark.
Except for the red spot on the occiput, which only the males wear, the sexes do not differ. A slight difference in size and weight in favor of the males cannot be registered in the field ornithology. The juvenile plumage is also very similar to that of adults, but the light-colored plumage on the underside is more light gray than white. The red occipital cap is worn by both sexes, but in the female it is smaller, paler and less clearly defined.
The flight of the Arizona woodpecker is a typical wave-like flight of woodpeckers.
Possible confusion
In the USA as well as in large parts of Mexico, the species cannot be confused with any other woodpecker. In the southernmost areas of the distribution area, there is a possibility of confusion with the sister species, the Strickland woodpecker. Although both species do not breed sympatricly, a common occurrence of both species cannot be ruled out. The Strickland woodpecker is significantly darker than the Arizona woodpecker and has white plumage marks on its back, which in the Arizona woodpecker may be absent or are more indistinct; the belly side is rather striped dark brown and not irregularly mottled with medium brown, the beak is shorter than that of the Arizona woodpecker. The red occipital cap is slightly larger in the Strickland woodpecker. In addition, the breeding areas of the Strickland woodpecker are significantly higher than those of the Arizona woodpecker.
Vocalizations
This type of woodpecker is very secretive and quiet, especially during the breeding season. In the pre-breeding season, however, the calls and drum sequences can be heard quite often. The most frequent call is a light, fine and high piik , which is usually expressed in a variety of antagonistic or territorial as well as sexually determined situations. Often, especially with increased excitement, this peep is combined with a rough, quickly lined up nagging, the rattle call , which is vaguely reminiscent of the screeching of a pine jay ; Another characteristic feature is a short, pointed kwiik , which is performed individually or in rows, and often represents the female's response to the male's drumming.
During the courtship and pre-breeding season, both sexes drum, the male louder and with longer drum rolls than the female. An average of 4 drum rolls per minute with about 12 single beats each can be heard. Some of the vocalizations of the Arizona woodpecker and the Strickland woodpecker are indistinguishable from each other.
distribution and habitat
The northernmost occurrences are in extreme southeastern New Mexico and in eastern and southeastern Arizona , northward to the Santa Catalina Mountains . To the south, the distribution area runs along the Sierra Madre Occidental to about Zacatecas , Jalisco and Michoacán .
In this elongated distribution area, which extends over 1,800 kilometers, the Arizona woodpecker inhabits light forests, especially with different oak species, as well as the Madrean pine-oak forest communities . The species shows a particular dependence on evergreen oak forests. In addition, Arizona woodpeckers breed in riparian woods and canyons with walnut trees and sycamores .
Vertically, the occurrences extend from approximately 1,000 meters in Arizona and New Mexico to 2,400 meters in central Mexico. Especially in the USA and northern Mexico, the occurrences are very fragmented and are mainly limited to the mountain ranges called Sky Islands , which have the typical Madrean vegetation.
The few available data on the space requirement of the species do not allow reliable information on the size, but they seem to indicate comparatively extensive territories compared with those of other woodpecker species of the same size. The immediate area around the cave tree, as well as individual food trees, are intensively defended against conspecifics, with mated Arizona woodpeckers only attacking intruding conspecifics; the other partner is usually unresponsive.
hikes
In its entire range, the species is a resident bird. Winter migrations to lower-lying areas, as well as small-scale changes of location when there is a shortage of food, occur, but are less common than with other montane woodpeckers.
Food and subsistence
There are only a few studies on the diet of the species. Arizona woodpeckers probably feed mainly on insects, especially beetles and their larvae. Longhorn beetles and weevils are likely to be important prey animals. Ants, their larvae and pupae, as well as other insects are also eaten, and if they occur in large numbers or are readily available, they can make up the main component of the diet.
Fruits and berries play a role in summer and autumn, acorns and conifer seeds in autumn and winter. It is not known whether tree sap is absorbed. The share of vegetables in the total food supply is also unknown and probably strongly fluctuates with the seasons.
Mainly the trunk and branch areas of living and dead trees are used for food acquisition. On the ground, the species is rarely seen foraging. The majority of prey animals are obtained by poking, drilling or reading, parts of the bark of dead trees can be loosened and removed over a large area with the beak or claws. The species is able to expand and chop up the surface of the feeding tunnels of wood-boring insect larvae. Because of the longer and stronger beak, males gain a greater proportion of food in this way than females. Vegetables such as fruits, berries or even conifer seeds are mostly consumed or exploited on the spot. This woodpecker usually flies to a tree at its base and spirals up the trunk before continuing the search on the large side branches. In contrast to males, females also increasingly use weaker side branches and twigs. No information is available about stocks or the use of forges .
Breeding biology
Arizona woodpeckers become sexually mature in their first year of life. As far as is known, they have a monogamous breeding season partnership. Pairing begins in early April. The main components of courtship are drum sequences and series of calls, ritualized knocking on a nest cavity that has been started or completed and, when mating has taken place, mutual chases.
The nest hole is mostly hammered into living deciduous trees, often into sycamores, poplars, maples or walnut trees. The cave construction begins with the courtship in April. So far only males have been observed building caves. The nest cavity is at different heights between 2.4 and almost 16 meters.
The laying period begins in mid-April and ends in the last decade of May. Arizona woodpeckers probably only breed once a year, and nothing is known about clutches either. A full clutch consists of 2–4 pure white elliptical eggs with a size of 24 x 17 millimeters. They are laid every day and incubated by both parents. The young hatch after about 14 days. They are hoofed and fed by both parents; the male seems to be more involved in rearing and nestling than the female.
The young birds leave the nest cavity after 24–26 days. After a day they can fly relatively skillfully and prey on easily accessible prey. However, you will remain with the family for a few more weeks. Most family groups only split up at the end of July. No information is available on dismigration .
Systematics
The discussions about the species status of the Arizona woodpecker go back to the time of the first description. In 1965 Davis summarized the arguments for a classification as a species or as a subspecies of the Strickland woodpecker; he already sees the two groups as morphologically separated, but still holds on to the view that the Arizona woodpecker should be understood as a subspecies of the Strickland woodpecker. In the 42nd addendum to the AOU Checklist, the Arizona woodpecker is separated from the Strickland woodpecker as an independent species. The reasons given are differences in morphology, behavior and choice of habitat. In 2015, Fuchs et al. Due to genetic similarities, a group of woodpeckers from the genus Picoides and placed them in the genus Leuconotopicus established by Alfred Malherbe in 1845 . In addition to the Arizona woodpecker, there are 4 other species of this genus. The stickland woodpecker is the sister species , the hairy woodpecker , white-headed woodpecker , cockade woodpecker and the soot woodpecker , which is separated from the genus Veniliornis , belong to the closest relatives.
Subspecies are currently described:
- Leuconotopicus arizonae arizonae ( Hargitt , 1886) :
The nominate form is common in the north of the breeding area; to the south it occurs to about Sinaloa and northwest Durango. It is the largest and brightest subspecies; her size and weight dimorphism is also most pronounced. A little to the south is the distribution area of Arizona woodpeckers, which some authorities say of a subspecies L. a. be assigned to websteri ; it extends south to Jalisco . The slightly darker plumage of these woodpeckers, however, is mostly considered an individual color variant, so that the subspecies is no longer recognized.
- Leuconotopicus arizonae fraterculus ( Ridgway , 1887) :
This smallest and darkest subspecies occurs in partially isolated areas, especially in Michoacán . Many individuals have white banding on their backs that are differently pronounced.
Stock situation
There is currently no subspecies on national or regional hazard lists. Birdlife gives the total population very roughly with 50,000–500,000 individuals. However, there are hardly any existing analyzes that can be evaluated, especially for Mexico. For the south of the USA, population declines are primarily associated with the sinking of the groundwater level and the intensification of grazing livestock, which leads to the death of Sycamore trees and prevents their regrowth.
Individual evidence
- ↑ IUCN data sheet
- ↑ Johnson et al. (1999) Systematics
- ^ Davis (1965) pp. 547 f. and p. 579 f.
- ↑ Johnson et al. (1999) Sounds
- ^ Davis (1965) p. 587
- ^ Johnson (1999) Habitat
- ^ Johnson (1999) Demography and Population
- ^ Johnson (1999) Agonistic Behavior
- ^ Johnson (1999) Migration
- ^ Johnson (1999) Diet
- ^ Johnson (1999) Sexual, Seasonal, and Geographic Differences in Foraging
- ^ Johnson (1999) Nest Site
- ^ Johnson (1999) Parental Care
- ^ Davis (1965) p. 580
- ↑ AOU Checklist (2000)
- ↑ AOU Checklist (2000) p. 851
- ↑ Jérôme Fuchs and Jean-Marc Pons: A new classification of the Pied Woodpeckers assemblage (Dendropicini, Picidae) based on a comprehensive multi-locus phylogeny . In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 88 (2015) 28-37
- ^ Johnson (1999) Conservation and Management
- ↑ Data sheet Birdlife (2008 - data from 2003)
- ^ Johnson (1999) Conservation and Management
literature
- AOU Check-list Supplement In: The Auk 117 (3): 847-858, 2000 pdf engl.
- Data sheet Birdlife
- John Davis: Natural History, Variation, and Distribution of the Strickland's Woodpecker. In: The Auk Vol. 82: 4 (1965) pp. 537-590.
- Roy R. Johnson, Lois T. Haight, and J. David Ligon: Arizona Woodpecker (Picoides arizonae) . In: The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Species 474.
- Amy C. Weibel, William S. Moore: Molecular Phylogeny of a Cosmopolitan Group of Woodpeckers (Genus Picoides) Based on COI and cyt b Mitochondrial Gene Sequences. In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , Vol. 22, No. 1, January, pp. 65-75, 2002. pdf engl.
- Hans Winkler , David Christie, David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge 1995, ISBN 0-395-72043-5 .
Web links
- Good summary, pictures and voice example
- Leuconotopicus arizonae onthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2014.