Big pecker | Facts & Information

Origin

In Romania it is present throughout the year and can be found in some parks with isolated trees.

In our country you can meet 3 subspecies of the 15-25 existing: Dendrocopos major major, dendrocopos major pinetorum and dendrocopos major candidus.

The big woodpecker represents, in our country, the symbol of toil and hard work. This bird runs almost all day long for food as if tirelessly. It is the most common species of woodpecker in Europe.

The only places where woodpeckers are not found are Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar and Antarctica. Populations in the North that do not find enough food can migrate south

The nesting population in Europe is estimated at 12-18 million pairs. Although it is a fairly large number compared to other bird species and the population of the great crested newt is declining due to deforestation, loss of habitat and nesting site. In some countries it is considered a protected species and hunting or capturing it is prohibited by law.

Read Also the flight of birds

Feeding large woodpecker

The large woodpecker feeds on insect worms or Bream. Its basic tool in the search for food is its sharp and powerful beak. It is used as a pickaxe or hammer. It uses it to find the larvae under the bark of trees.

Particularly fine hearing helps her find even the smallest insects with great precision. After spotting where the pests are hiding, he uses his beak to reach them.

It is found regardless of the stage of development(larva or adult). Once the hole has been made, he uses his long, sticky tongue to feed himself. They prefer xylophagous insects (wood-eating ones).

When searching for food, it clings to the tree well with its short, powerful claws in an upright position. The fingers are positioned two at the front and two at the back. It rests in the tail. It strikes the bark of the tree with a frequency of 40 beats per second.

It also feeds on tree sap, berries, nuts, seeds, especially in winter when food is scarce. In the spring you can feed the eggs or chicks of other birds directly from their nests. They don't go down to the ground unless they need to.

Instead they were seen as adaptors and feeders to goodies given by humans such as peanuts or sunflower seeds. Hazelnuts or seeds are goodies that you consume with pleasure, especially during the breeding season.

Between the chicks there is a continuous competition who is closest to the hole to be the one who takes the food. They feed and grow by seeing their eyes. They are very vocal and active when they are young.

See also bird mating

Features large woodpecker

The large spotted woodpecker is 25cm long, from beak to tail and weighs 85 grams. The wingspan is 35-40cm. The feathers are white and black and the subcodal part Red. The hard, pointed beak to the end is bluish.

Strong legs are grayish-black in color. The male has a Red Riding Hood on his head. The cheeks, neck and belly are white. The color of the young does not differ much from that of the adults.

It is a bold, active and territorial bird. She marks her territory by drilling trees and strictly defends it if any individual comes on her trees. The woodpecker is the second most intelligent bird. It was once associated with water and was believed to be a harbinger of rain. The specific darabana sound is the most common mode of identification because the woodpecker does not make specific vowel sounds.

The bird adapted well to "hammering". The head is protected so that the impact does not affect the brain or other organs. Its nostrils are covered by small feathers to keep out the pieces of wood that come off the trees. It can move vertically on the bark of trees. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of one year.

Next you have the subspecies large mottled woodpeckers and next to each species is listed in parenthesis the person who first described the subspecies and the year:

Dendrocopos major major

Dendrocopos major brevirostris

Dendrocopos major kamtschaticus

Dendrocopos major pinetorum

Dendrocopos major hispanus

Dendrocopos major harterti

Dendrocopos major canariensis

Dendrocopos major thanneri

Dendrocopos major mauritanus

Dendrocopos major numidus

Dendrocopos major poelzami

Dendrocopos major japonicus

Dendrocopos major cabanisi

Dendrocopos major stresemanni

Breeding large woodpecker

The nest is made in old trees. Every year the woodpecker makes a new Nest, and the old one is used by other birds. The large woodpecker also uses vertical nests, such as the top of trees left without tips.

Both partners defend their territory in March by hammering heavily into trees. Before starting to build the nest, the male and female fly in the nuptial ritual.

The Nest has a small round entrance about 5cm in diameter.

After mating, the female lays 3-7 glossy white eggs. Both partners take turns brooding. The female hatches during the day, and the male hatches at night. After the two-week incubation period the chicks emerge.

They can fly about three weeks after hatching. The large woodpecker hatches only one row of chicks per year.

Life expectancy is 10 years in freedom.