Golden shoulder woodpecker
| Golden shoulder woodpecker | ||||||||||||
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Golden-shouldered woodpecker (male) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Chrysocolaptes festivus | ||||||||||||
| ( Boddaert , 1783) |
The white-naped woodpecker ( chrysocolaptes festivus ) is a species of bird from the family of woodpeckers (Picidae). The medium-sized woodpecker species colonizes large parts of the Indian subcontinent including Sri Lanka . Golden-shouldered woodpeckers inhabit open, evergreen and alternating green deciduous forests and bushland, but also cultivated land with individual trees. The food sought in the lower tree layer on tree trunks and occasionally also on the ground consists mainly of ants and larvae of wood-dwelling insects; the presence of seeds in the diet also suggests the ingestion of fruits. The species is widespread in its large range and locally quite common in India, less common in Nepal ; the stock is considered stable. The gold shoulder woodpecker is classified by the IUCN as 
(= least concern - not endangered).
description
Goldshoulder woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers with a pronounced feather bonnet and a very long, chisel-shaped, pointed beak that is broad at the base. The ridge of the beak is only slightly bent downwards. The body length is about 29 cm, the weight about 213 g. They are thus somewhat smaller and lighter than a green woodpecker , but in terms of habit and way of life they are more similar to the black woodpecker . The species is colored richly and shows a clear sexual dimorphism with regard to the coloring .
In males of the nominate form , the upper back is white, shoulder feathers, innermost upper wing coverts, lower back, rump and upper tail coverts are sharply set off in black. The other upper wing-coverts are predominantly olive green with a strong golden yellow tint and golden edges and tips, occasionally with a reddish tinge. The wings are brownish black, the arm wings and the umbrella feathers have yellow olive outer flags and all wings are spotted white on the inside and outside flags. The top of the tail is black, the underside brownish black. The underside of the fuselage is white. The front neck and chest are dashed in black as a continuation of the black throat stripe, towards the tail the dashed lines become narrower and the lower tail covers are often more banded than dashed. The lower wings are spotted white on a gray background.
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The forehead is dotted brown on a white background, the top of the head and bonnet are red and bordered with narrow black towards the bottom. A wide, white stripe over the eyes extends from the back of the eye to the back of the head and occasionally ends there in the white nape of the neck. Below that, a wide black eye stripe runs just in front of the eye to the nape of the neck and then down the sides of the neck to the sides of the chest. The rein stripe , again white, begins at the base of the beak and runs backwards to the white sides of the neck. The white beard stripe has a narrow black border above and below, the two black lines unite at the rear end of the beard stripe. The chin and throat are white with a black center line. The neck is white like the upper back. The beak is blackish, legs and toes are green-gray. The iris is red to light orange.
The females' head and bonnet are bright yellow, usually with a little brown on the front and sides.
Vocalizations
Little is known about the calls. The laughing "rattle calls" sound like "kwirri-rr-rr-rr-rr" . The type drums, and the rows of drums have apparently not yet been described in detail.
distribution and habitat
This species of woodpecker inhabits large parts of the Indian subcontinent and small areas in Sri Lanka . The distribution area extends in a west-east direction from Gujarat to West Bengal , in a north-south direction from about 30 ° N in Uttar Pradesh and Nepal almost to the southern tip of the subcontinent; however, the species is absent in a relatively wide zone along its east coast. In Sri Lanka there are two relatively small areas in the north and south. The size of the total distribution area is not exactly known.
Golden-shouldered woodpeckers inhabit open, evergreen and alternating green deciduous forests and bushland, but also cultivated land with individual trees. In Sri Lanka, the area is limited to a few areas in the dry zone, where the occurrences appear to be concentrated in coconut groves in the vicinity of villages. The animals are largely restricted to the lowlands, the altitude range extends up to about 1000 m.
Systematics
Two subspecies are recognized:
- Chrysocolaptes festivus festivus ( Boddaert , 1783) - largest part of the distribution area.
- Chrysocolaptes festivus tantus Ripley , 1946 - Sri Lanka. Slightly smaller than the nominate shape, blackish forehead, black throat stripe and black underside stripes wider, overall appearance therefore darker.
nutrition
The food sought in the lower tree layer on tree trunks and occasionally also on the ground consists mainly of ants and larvae of wood-dwelling insects; the presence of seeds in the diet also suggests the ingestion of fruits. The foraging for food probably takes place mainly by chopping and hammering.
Reproduction
Golden-shouldered woodpeckers live individually or in pairs, the partners keep in contact with each other through regular calls. The breeding season varies depending on the area of distribution, but generally extends from November to March. In Sri Lanka it is also incubated in August and September. The caves are created annually in trees or palm stumps at heights between 2 and 7 m. The entrance is pear-shaped. The clutch usually consists of only 1 egg, rarely 2 or 3. Both parents take part in cave construction, incubation and rearing of the young. The young birds stay with their parents for a long time after they leave.
Existence and endangerment
There is no information on the size of the world population. The species is widespread in its large distribution area and locally quite common in India, not very common in Nepal , the population is considered stable. The IUCN classifies the golden shoulder woodpecker as “least concern”.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Goldshoulder Woodpecker at BirdLife International
- ↑ 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. 379
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. 154-155 and 379-380.
Web links
- Chrysocolaptes festivus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2009. Retrieved on December 19 of 2010.
Other web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings for Chrysocolaptes festivus in the Internet Bird Collection