Yellow-flanked woodpecker

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Yellow-flanked woodpecker
Female yellow-flanked woodpecker in Manacapuru

Female yellow-flanked woodpecker in Manacapuru

Systematics
Order : Woodpecker birds (Piciformes)
Family : Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Subfamily : Real woodpeckers (Picinae)
Genre : Celeus
Type : Yellow-flanked woodpecker
Scientific name
Celeus grammicus
( Natterer & Malherbe , 1845)

The yellow-flanked woodpecker ( Celeus grammicus ) is a species of bird from the woodpecker family (Picidae). This small and mostly dark chestnut woodpecker has a large distribution area in tropical South America . The species inhabits a fairly wide range of forest communities from rainforests , moist terra firme and Várzea to secondary forests and savannas with only individual trees. Very little is known about the way of life of the species. As far as is known, the food mainly sought in the middle and upper tree layers consists of ants and fruits.

The species is not very common, but the world population is estimated to be stable and no serious threats are currently recognizable. The IUCN therefore classifies the yellow-flanked woodpecker as harmless (“least concern”).

description

Yellow-flanked woodpeckers are small woodpeckers with a fairly long hood. The beak is quite short, slightly pointed in the shape of a chisel, curved downwards at the ridge and narrow at the base. The body length is about 23-24 cm, the weight 63-87 g. These woodpeckers are thus about as big and heavy as a woodpecker . In terms of coloration, the species shows a rather clear sexual dimorphism .

In males of the nominate form C. g. grammicus is almost the entire top including shoulder feathers, upper wing-coverts and umbrella feathers banded narrow black on a reddish-maroon ground. The rump is light greenish-yellow to light yellow-beige and unmarked and rarely shows some feathers with red tips. The upper tail-coverts are monochrome reddish-chestnut brown and occasionally banded slightly dark. The predominantly blackish wings are greenish yellow at the base and show narrow red-brown edges and tips. The control feathers are brown-black on top with maroon edges and occasionally with completely maroon bases.

The entire underside of the trunk is dark reddish-chestnut brown, only the flanks are much lighter and yellowish beige. On this basis, the chest shows a wide black banding or arrowhead drawing, this drawing becomes narrower on the lower breast and the belly is only sparsely spotted with dark spots. The lower wings are dull brown with lighter yellowish under wing coverts and wing bases. The under tail is brown or yellowish brown with cinnamon-colored feathers.

The forehead, the top of the head and the bonnet are dashed in black on a reddish-maroon background of variable thickness. Rein region and ear covers are solid reddish-maroon. The cheeks and the beard are bright red, the red color extends to the front ear covers. The chin, throat and sides of the neck are banded black on a maroon ground, the nape, like the back, is narrowly banded in black on a reddish-maroon ground.

The beak is greenish to yellowish green or ivory in color. Legs and toes are dark green-gray to gray. The iris is red.

Females lack the red areas on the sides of the head, these areas are reddish-chestnut brown like the rest of the head.

Vocalizations

The most common call is a loud, whistling and somewhat nasal “curry-kuuu” or “doit-gua” . In addition, a very loud and metallic “Pring-Pring!” Is described, which is repeated up to four times. It is apparently not yet known whether the species drums.

distribution and habitat

This woodpecker has a wide range in the western and central Amazon basins in tropical South America. The area extends in a north-south direction from the southwest of Venezuela via the southeast of Colombia , the east of Ecuador and the southeast of Peru to Bolivia . To the east, the range of the species extends from the central south of Venezuela over the northwest of Brazil to Santarem , to the Rio Tapajós and to the north of Mato Grosso . The size of the total distribution area is estimated at 3.99 million km².

The species inhabits a fairly wide range of forest communities from rainforests , moist terra firme and Várzea to secondary forests and savannas with only individual trees. Yellow-flanked woodpeckers are largely restricted to the hill country and occur at an altitude of 100–900 m, locally also up to 1140 m.

Systematics

The yellow-flanked woodpecker forms according to Winkler et al. a super species with the olive woodpecker ( Celeus undatus ). Winkler et al. recognize four subspecies, three of which are poorly differentiated:

  • Celeus g. grammicus ( Natterer & Malherbe , 1845) - Northern part of the distribution area, from Venezuela to northeastern Peru. The nominate form is described above.
  • Celeus g. verreauxi ( Malherbe , 1858) - East of Ecuador and adjacent northeast of Peru. Very similar to the nominate form, but the underside is much less banded.
  • Celeus g. subcervinus Todd , 1937 - South of the Amazon to Mato Grosso. Similar to the nominate shape, but rump and flanks without a shade of yellow and more cinnamon to beige.
  • Celeus g. latifasciatus Seilern , 1936 - Southeast Peru, North Bolivia and the upper reaches of the Rio Madeira in Brazil. Coloration clearly different from the other subspecies. Top very light cinnamon-colored and yellow or beige feather bases visible. The rump is very light, the upper back is broadly banded.

Way of life

Very little information is available on the way of life of the species. Yellow-flanked woodpeckers are occasionally found in small groups of three to four individuals and often join mixed flocks of birds. As far as is known, the food mainly sought in the middle and upper tree layers consists of ants and fruits. The food is often sought on trunks or strong branches, but also on tendrils. The woodpeckers chop quickly and acquire food objects on bark by probing and reading.

Reproduction takes place in Venezuela and probably also in the entire western range from February to April. The species probably breeds a little later in Brazil. Further information on the breeding biology is not yet available.

Existence and endangerment

Estimates of the size of the world population are not yet available. The species is not very common, but the world population is estimated to be stable and no serious threats are currently recognizable. The IUCN therefore classifies the yellow-flanked woodpecker as harmless (“least concern”).

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b The yellow-flanked woodpecker at BirdLife International . Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  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. 328
  3. ↑ 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. 329

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. 126-127 and 328-329.

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