European red-throated woodpecker

European red-throated woodpecker
	European red-throated woodpecker ( Celeus loricatus )
Systematics
Order :	Woodpecker birds (Piciformes)
Family :	Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Subfamily :	Real woodpeckers (Picinae)
Genre :	Celeus
Type :	European red-throated woodpecker
Scientific name
	Celeus loricatus
	( Reichenbach , 1854)

The European red-throated woodpecker ( Celeus loricatus ) is a species of bird from the woodpecker family (Picidae). This small and mostly brownish woodpecker has a relatively small distribution area that extends from central Central America to the northwest of South America . The species lives almost exclusively in damp to wet tropical forests in the lowlands and foothills . The food apparently sought in all strata of the forest consists, as far as known, of ants and termites as well as fruits.

The species is not very common, but the world population is estimated to be stable and no serious threats are currently recognizable. The European Red-throated Woodpecker is therefore classified by the IUCN as “least concern”.

description

Red-throated woodpeckers are small woodpeckers with a not very distinctive crest. The beak is quite short, almost pointed, bent slightly downwards at the ridge and narrow at the base. The body length is about 19-23 cm, the weight 74-83 g. These woodpeckers are about as big and heavy as a middle woodpecker . The species shows a clear sexual dimorphism in terms of coloration .

In males of the largest and most northerly subspecies C. l. diversus is almost the entire upper side including upper wing coverts, umbrella feathers and upper tail coverts banded narrowly black on a maroon ground. The rump shows these bands on a slightly lighter background. The blackish wings show very broad red-brown bands. The control feathers are very broadly banded from cinnamon beige to whitish on top on a black background. The entire underside of the trunk is reddish cinnamon, the base color becomes lighter towards the belly. On this basis the breast shows strong, black, scale-like banding; on the flanks and abdomen this banding is more like an arrowhead. The under wing coverts are red-brown, the wing undersides, which are also red-brown, are banded in black. The underside of the tail is colored like the top, but lighter overall.

Almost the entire head is red-brown-cinnamon-colored, forehead, top of the head and bonnet are broadly dashed in black. The chin, throat and beard are black with red feather tips, a faint red coloration can also be present behind and above the eyes.

The beak is greenish yellow, the ridge of the beak horn-colored. Legs and toes are brownish gray. The iris is red.

Females lack the red areas on the chin, throat and beard, these areas are red-brown-cinnamon-colored like the rest of the head.

Vocalizations

The most common call is a strong, slightly whistling and piercing series of three to five sounds such as "peee-peew-peu-pu, phet-phet-phet-phet" or "wheeet, wheet, wheetit" , which vary in height and amplitude - and dismount. This call is occasionally introduced with a “chuweéoo” . When aroused, a sharp, descending, rolling, parrot-like chatter is uttered. The drum rolls are relatively slow and short.

distribution and habitat

This woodpecker has a relatively small range, stretching from central Central America to northwestern South America . The area extends from Nicaragua through Costa Rica and Panama to the north and west of Colombia and to the north-west of Ecuador . The size of the total distribution area is estimated at 298,000 km².

The species lives almost exclusively in damp to wet tropical forests and is only very rarely observed in drier habitats. Occasionally these woodpeckers visit forest fringes, adjacent semi-open forests, old secondary forests, and clearings. European red-throated woodpeckers are largely restricted to lowlands and foothills and occur in Costa Rica and Panama from sea level up to 760 m altitude, in Colombia up to 1500 m altitude.

Systematics

Winkler et al. recognize four poorly differentiated subspecies, all of which also show considerable individual variability:

Celeus l. diversus Ridgway , 1914 - Northern part of the distribution area, from Nicaragua to western Panama. The largest subspecies, it is described above.
Celeus l. mentalis Cassin , 1860 - to the south of the previous subspecies, Panama and northwestern Colombia. Smaller than the previous subspecies, the underside lighter and overall weaker black banding.

Celeus l. loricatus ( Reichenbach , 1854) - West Colombia and West Ecuador. Similar to Celeus l. diversus , but the upper side somewhat more strongly banded, the lower side darker and more densely banded.

Celeus l. innotatus Todd 1917 - Northern Colombia. Similar to Celeus l. mentalis , but dark markings even weaker, upper side bands very sparse or even completely absent, dark lines on the top of the head are also occasionally missing, lower side only with a few dark spots on the chest.

Way of life

Red-throated woodpeckers are usually found singly or in pairs and rarely join mixed flocks of birds. The food apparently sought in all strata of the forest consists of ants and termites as well as fruits. The food is often sought on young trees and bushes and thin trunks, twigs and branches. These woodpeckers frequently chop and also regularly acquire food objects by reading them.

Reproduction takes place in Costa Rica from March to May, in Colombia from January to April. The caves are created by both partners at a height of 6 to 9 m in the soft wood of living or freshly dead trees. 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 European Red-throated Woodpecker is therefore classified by the IUCN as “least concern”.

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Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b The red-throated woodpecker at BirdLife International . Retrieved February 15, 2012.
↑ 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

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 327-328.

Web links

Celeus loricatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2009. Retrieved on February 15 2012th