Blood spot woodpecker

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Blood spot woodpecker
Blood spot woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus percussus)

Blood spot woodpecker ( Xiphidiopicus percussus )

Systematics
Order : Woodpecker birds (Piciformes)
Family : Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Subfamily : Real woodpeckers (Picinae)
Genre : Xiphidiopicus
Type : Blood spot woodpecker
Scientific name of the  genus
Xiphidiopicus
Bonaparte , 1854
Scientific name of the  species
Xiphidiopicus percussus
( Temminck , 1826)

The blood-spot woodpecker or Cuban green woodpecker ( Xiphidiopicus percussus ) is a species of bird in the family of woodpeckers (Picidae). The genus Xiphidiopicus is monotypical with the blood-spot woodpecker as the only species. This rather small woodpecker is endemic to Cuba . It colonizes tree-lined habitats of all kinds, the food, which apparently consists mainly of insects, is sought in trees. The species is quite common and is classified by the IUCN as LC IUCN 3 1st svg(= least concern - not endangered).

description

Female bird

Blood-spot woodpeckers are quite small woodpeckers with a short, slightly chisel-shaped, pointed beak, which is quite broad at the base. The ridge of the beak is straight. The body length is about 21-25 cm, 48-97 g weight, so that they are about the size of a woodpecker . Like most woodpecker species, the species shows a clear sexual dimorphism in terms of coloration; females are also smaller and significantly shorter-billed than males.

In males of the nominate form , the entire upper side, including the umbrella feathers and the upper wing-coverts, is green with variable yellow or gray tones. The lower back is more yellowish with faint light and dark banding, the upper tail-coverts are lighter green and show dark banding. The wings are black on top with wide white bands, on the outer flags of the arm wings these bands are tinged with green. The tail is dark brown above and below, more brownish gray or pale gray in the middle. At least the three outer control feathers have a fairly wide, light brown band, which is sometimes extended to all control feathers. The chest is darkly dashed on a yellow background, the lower chest and belly are solid yellow and occasionally tinged orange. The rest of the underside including the leg fletching and the tail-coverts is whitish and strongly banded in black. The underside of the wings is completely brown and cross-banded white, the under wing-coverts are more greenish.

The beak is bluish black, legs and toes are greenish to olive-gray. The iris is brown.

In males, the forehead and most of the face are white. The skull and neck are red, usually with something black on the front of the skull. The red feathers form a small tuft on the back of the head. A black, rather narrow eye stripe begins just in front of the eye and extends above and then behind the ear covers down to the back of the neck. The chin and throat are black in the middle. The feathers of the lower throat, the fore neck and the uppermost chest are also black, but have broad red tips that form a red field there. In the female, the upper head is mostly black and fine white dashed, the red color is limited to the back of the head and neck. The solid yellow area on the chest and abdomen is less extensive.

distribution and habitat

The blood-spot woodpecker is endemic to Cuba including the neighboring islands. The animals inhabit a wide spectrum of tree-lined habitats from different forest communities to mangroves and quite open areas with palm trees. The species occurs from sea level to the mountains.

Systematics

According to a molecular genetic investigation, the blood-spot woodpecker forms the sister taxon of the genus Melanerpes . Two subspecies are recognized:

  • Xiphidiopicus p. percussus ( Temminck , 1826) ; the nominate form inhabits the main Cuban island.
  • Xiphidiopicus p. insulaepinorum Bangs , 1910 ; Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Pines) and Centiles Keys ; slightly smaller and lighter than the nominate shape, the belly is pale yellow and the red throat patch is less extensive, all control feathers are banded.

Way of life

The animals are usually observed individually or in pairs, but occasionally also in small groups of three to five individuals. Food is sought on trees between climbing plants, on trunks and in the crowns. Dietary information is apparently scarce, but it appears that these woodpeckers often eat large insects obtained by reading and chopping.

The breeding season extends from February to August, possibly with a peak in May and June. The caves are mostly created at a height of 4–5 m, mainly in palm trees, but also in trees and occasionally in the structures of tree-living termites . The clutches usually consist of three to four eggs, and both parents feed the nestlings in roughly equal parts.

Existence and endangerment

There is no information on the size of the world population. The species is quite common and the population is evidently stable. The IUCN therefore classifies the blood-spotted woodpecker as safe ("least concern").

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lowell C. Overton and Douglas D. Rhoads: Molecular phylogenetic relationships of Xiphidiopicus percussus , Melanerpes , and Sphyrapicus (Aves: Picidae) based on cytochrome B sequence. In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41 (2), 2006: pp. 288-294. doi : 10.1016 / j.ympev.2006.05.014
  2. ↑ Hans Winkler, David A. Christie and David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge 1995: p. 226

literature

Web links

Commons : Bloodspot Woodpecker  - Collection of images, videos and audio files