Drip-throated woodpecker

Drip-throated woodpecker
	Drip-throated Woodpecker (male)
Systematics
Class :	Birds (aves)
Order :	Woodpecker birds (Piciformes)
Family :	Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Subfamily :	Real woodpeckers (Picinae)
Genre :	Chrysophlegm
Type :	Drip-throated woodpecker
Scientific name
	Chrysophlegm mental
	( Temminck , 1826)

The drop-throated woodpecker ( Chrysophlegma mental , Syn. : Picus mentalis ) is a species of bird from the family of woodpeckers (Picidae). The medium-sized woodpecker species inhabits parts of Southeast Asia and primarily lives in the evergreen tropical rainforest , especially in more humid areas with large trees and dense undergrowth. The food sought in the lower and middle layers of the tree consists of ants, termites, insect larvae, beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches and other insects. Occasionally berries are also eaten.

The species is rarely or locally common in its area, the population is probably declining due to habitat destruction. The drip-throated woodpecker is still classified by the IUCN as safe ("least concern").

description

Drip-throated woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers with an erect or upwardly curved feather bonnet, a stiff, long tail and a rather long, chisel-shaped, pointed beak that is quite broad at the base. The ridge of the beak is bent downwards. The body length is about 26-28 cm, g weight 88 to 113, they are significantly larger and heavier than a woodpecker . In terms of coloration, the species shows a less conspicuous sexual dimorphism , females are also somewhat shorter-billed than males.

In males of the subspecies Chrysophlegma mental humii , which is widespread in most of the area, most of the upper side including the upper tail-coverts, shoulder and umbrella feathers and small upper wing coverts is green with a light yellow tone, the rump is more bright yellow. The middle and large upper wing coverts are bright reddish chestnut brown, in the fresh plumage with narrow green edges. The wings are predominantly blackish brown, the outer flags of the arm wings and the inner hand wings are also reddish maroon. All wings show tie-like reddish spots on the outside and inside flags, which are only indistinctly recognizable in the maroon areas. The top of the tail is blackish. The breast is slightly reddish chestnut brown, the rest of the underside of the trunk including the under tail coverts is green with a bronze tone. The undersides of the wings are banded on a brownish background, the cinnamon-reddish brown banded on a greenish background. The lower tail is colored like the upper tail.

The forehead and skull are dark green to olive green, occasionally the feathers on the sides have reddish brown tips. The tips of the feathers on the back of the head and on the back of the head are yellow; this yellowing extends to the nape of the neck. The rein region and the ear covers are dark green, the sides of the neck are reddish chestnut brown, this color extends to the chest. The beard is dark olive-green with white dashes or spots, the chin and throat are white with olive-green dashes, and the lower throat is often more banded.

The beak is dark gray, the lower bill lighter gray. Legs and toes are olive to gray. The iris is red, red-brown or brown, the eye ring is olive to olive-gray.

In the female, the reddish chestnut-brown area is not limited to the sides of the neck, but extends forward along the beard to the base of the beak, often to the chin.

Vocalizations

Frequent calls are single "kjick" sounds, which can be followed by a series of "kwee" or "kjee" sounds. A long and fast series of "wee" calls is also known. The drum rolls are short and quite fast.

distribution

This species of woodpecker inhabits parts of Southeast Asia. The distribution area extends in a west-east direction from the extreme south of Myanmar to the east coast of Borneo , to the south the area extends over large parts of the Malay Peninsula and central Sumatra and Bangka to the extreme west of Java . The size of the total distribution area is not exactly known.

Systematics

Winkler et al. recognize two quite well differentiated subspecies:

Chrysophlegma mental humii Hargitt , 1889 - Largest part of the range. This subspecies is described above.

Chrysophlegma mental mental ( Temminck , 1826) - West Java. Significantly larger than the previous subspecies, but proportionally shorter-billed. Upper surface dull and darker, maroon color on the neck extended to parts of the back of the head and bonnet. In the male, the beard, chin and throat are blackish with white spots, in the female the chin and throat are almost completely maroon.

habitat

Drip-throated woodpeckers primarily inhabit the evergreen tropical rainforest , above all more humid areas with large trees and dense undergrowth, but also densely overgrown clearings and forest edges and occasionally the landside areas of mangrove . Dense and high secondary forests , bushland or cultivated land are rarely visited. The species occurs in flat and mountainous regions, in Thailand mostly below 1000 m, on the Malay Peninsula up to 1200 m and on the Great Sunda Islands up to 1700 m.

Way of life

Drip-throated woodpeckers are usually found singly, occasionally in pairs and often join mixed flocks of birds. They move very quickly and restlessly, often hang on their back when looking for food and often try to reach food objects by fluttering. Food is sought in the lower and middle tree layers on the trunks of small trees, low branches and on stumps overgrown with epiphytes or tendrils. It consists of ants, termites, insect larvae, beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches and other insects. Occasionally berries are also eaten. Food objects are obtained mainly by probing, reading or removing leaf litter and the like; Chopping and intense hammering are not seen often.

Broods were observed in Malaysia in March and April, in Java in March and in Borneo from February to June. The caves are created in tree stumps, the clutches contain two to three eggs. Further information on the breeding biology is not yet available.

Existence and endangerment

Information on the size of the world population is not available. The species is rarely or locally common in its area, the population is probably declining due to habitat destruction. The drip-throated woodpecker is still classified by the IUCN as safe ("least concern").

swell

Individual evidence

↑ The Drip-throated Woodpecker at BirdLife International (Online, accessed January 26, 2011)
↑ 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. 360

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. 144-145 and 360-361.

Web links

Picus mentalis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2009. Accessed January 26, 2011th