Picus (genus)
| Picus | ||||||||||
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Green Woodpecker ♀ |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Picus | ||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1758 |
Picus is a genus of the woodpeckers (Picidae), which is represented in the Palearctic and the Oriental region with 12 species. The green woodpecker ( Picus viridis ) and the gray woodpecker ( Picus canus )live on these in Central Europe.
features
As a rule, they are medium-sized to large woodpecker birds with or without a pronounced feather hood, a long and stiff tail and a mostly quite long, almost straight and more or less pointed beak. The species have four toes, the fourth (outer) toe is about as long as the two front toes, the first toe about half as long. The long tongue, which can be stretched out, and the special hyoid bone associated with it are striking . In the resting position, this forms a loop in the neck region and then runs to the upper beak (for example with the green woodpecker) or ends shortly before it.
These woodpeckers are partially or predominantly green in color, and the underside is often scaled or banded. There are red and / or black areas on the head, and sometimes the head also has other colors. The species show a more or less conspicuous sexual dimorphism in terms of color ; the differences concern the color of the skull and / or the beard.
Systematics
The genus Picus contains 12 species:
- Yellow-crested woodpecker ( Picus chlorolophus ) - South and Southeast Asia
- Red-winged Woodpecker ( Picus puniceus ) - Southeast Asia
- Burma Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridanus ) - South Asia
- Reticulated woodpecker ( Picus vittatus ) - Southeast Asia
- Hindu Green Woodpecker ( Picus xanthopygaeus ) - South Asia
- Scaled Green Woodpecker ( Picus squamatus ) - Northern India, Northern Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet
- Japanese Green Woodpecker ( Picus awokera ) - Japan
- Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridis ) - Europe
- Atlas Green Woodpecker ( Picus vaillantii ) - Northern Morocco to Tunisia
- Collar Woodpecker ( Picus rabieri ) - Laos and Vietnam
- Red-rumped Woodpecker ( Picus erythropygius ) - Southeast Asia
- Gray woodpecker ( Picus canus ) - Europe to Southeast Asia
So far, three other species were found to this genus mostly, these were banded woodpecker ( Picus mineaceus ), Yellow-naped woodpecker ( Picus flavinucha ) and drop-throated Woodpecker ( Picus mentalis ). After a molecular genetic investigation of several sections of the DNA , these three species form a monophyletic group, whether this group is the sister taxon of all other species of the genus Picus or is further away from them could not be determined with certainty. The genetic distance between these two groups is just as great as between other woodpecker taxa treated as different genera, so the authors of the study suggest separating these three species as a separate genus Chrysophlegm . The International Ornithologist's Union (IOC) has already followed this suggestion.
distribution and habitat
The distribution of the genus Picus is ancient ; the tropics of South and Southeast Asia have the greatest biodiversity. 7 of the 12 species are restricted to this geographic area; Another species, the gray woodpecker ( Picus canus ), occurs in large parts of the Palearctic in addition to South and Southeast Asia . Two species of the genus live in Central Europe with the green woodpecker ( Picus viridis ) and gray woodpecker ; a third species, the Atlas Green Woodpecker ( Picus vaillantii ), inhabits the southern edge of the Western Palearctic along with North Africa.
Most representatives of the genus inhabit open or semi-open forests, but also cultivated land such as plantations, orchards or large gardens. Only a few species such as the Burma green woodpecker ( Picus viridanus ) live primarily in dense, closed forests.
Way of life
Woodpeckers of the genus Picus are typical ground woodpeckers ; they mostly feed on ants , which they get out of their burrows with their long tongues. The foraging for food takes place often or mainly on the ground.
Picture gallery
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ F. Gill & D. Donsker (Eds) 2010: IOC World Bird Names (version 2.7.). - Woodpeckers and Allies. ( Online ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this note. , Accessed on January 11, 2011)
- ↑ Jérôme Fuchs, Jean-Marc Pons, Per GP Ericson, Céline Bonillo, Arnaud Couloux and Eric Pasquet: Molecular support for a rapid cladogenesis of the woodpecker clade Malarpicini, with further insights into the genus Picus (Piciformes: Picinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48, 2008: pp. 34-46
literature
- Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim (Ed.): Picus. In: Handbook of the birds of Central Europe . Vogelzug-Verlag 2001 (licensed edition by AULA-Verlag Wiesbaden) - CD-ROM, ISBN 3-923527-00-4 , p. 917.
- Hans Winkler , David A. Christie, David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge 1995, ISBN 0-395-72043-5 , pp. 12, 142-151 and 355-372.
