Black woodpecker | Facts & Information

# Black woodpecker | Facts & Information

Black woodpecker | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Black woodpecker

The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) belongs to the genus Dryocopus, order Piciformes. It is the largest species of woodpecker in Europe. It can be seen throughout Romania in deciduous or coniferous forests up to the Danube delta.

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Black Woodpecker

Black woodpecker

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Facts

Origin

In Europe it inhabits most of the forested areas. The forests where the black woodpecker lives the trees have a certain distance between them. It prefers wild areas away from human settlements with fir and beech forests. It can rarely be seen in open parks if it has the right environment for nesting.

The black woodpecker is a rare species, and besides being rare it is cautious and can be observed all the more difficult because it is careful and avoids people. It is currently protected by law. Her hunting is forbidden. It lives at altitudes between 100 and 2500 meters.

Because of her appearance, she's still called Black. It is the bird with the most varied names. It is called the "mountain woodpecker" because a century ago it was found more often in the mountain areas. "Horoi de FIR" is another name. "The tenant" is called because of the eerie sound it makes. "Screaming", "Emperor of the forests" or "black Vardare" are other regional names.

There are an estimated 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 individuals in Europe. At this point, at which the article is written, the species is not in danger.

Read Also the flight of birds

Feeding the black Woodpecker

The black woodpecker feeds mainly on insects (ants, caterpillars, etc.) and larvae. Food is sought under the bark of the hounds that they dig with their sharp and powerful beak. In the absence of food from the trees they descend to the ground in search of ants or other insects.

If they discover anthills they catch small insects with their tongue which is very sticky. He likes ants so much, which are rich in protein, that he spends hours looking for them flying from one tree to another. In some areas their food is made up almost entirely of ants, and in others of butterfly larvae.

Besides food drink rainwater from the depths of the bark of trees.

It feeds for several hours a day looking for food from one tree to another. When it finds food under the bark of trees, it beats hard with its beak until it reaches it. He uses his head like a hammer and leans against trees with the help of his tail. It has a fairly high physical strength and can look for prey quite deep in trees. They position themselves well with the help of short legs with powerful claws.

See also bird mating

Features black Woodpecker

The black woodpecker has a length of 40-50cm, a wingspan of 65-80cm and a weight of 250-400 grams. It's the size of a crow. As the name implies, the plumage is black, except for the tips of the wings which are brown and the red feathers on the head.

The male has red feathers from the top of the head to near the beak, while the female has only a red spot on the head. The strong conical beak is white at the base and blue at the tip.

The legs, also strong, end with claws provided two in front and two in the back. The tail, not very long, is made up of hard feathers that help the bird to support itself when searching for food.

Its nostrils are covered in feathers as protection when it searches for food. The feathers protect it from wood chips. Skin that is thicker protects it from ant stings.

The tail is about 15cm.

The black woodpecker is a shy and very cautious bird. It clings very well to tree trunks with its sharp claws. While searching for food it flies from one tree to another and emits a characteristic "pru-pru"sound. When searching for food, it beats with its beak in trees very strongly.

It is the largest species of woodpecker after the Imperial Woodpecker. The flight is almost straight. The woodpecker is considered a saviour of the forest. It feeds on insects that get under the bark of trees and dries them.

The woodpecker's nests serve as a shelter for many other birds and mammals and it is considered an important species in the habitat of those in the area.

Breeding black Woodpecker

The black woodpecker lives alone most of the year. Only during the mating season do they stay in pairs. Rituatlu and copulation begins in the cold season of February.

Partners search for each other through shrill sounds. The place to hatch is chosen by the male, but the tree in which the nest is built by the female. The entrance is Oval and the location is high above the ground.

It nests in hollows that it builds in trees with the help of its beak. The hollow for reproduction is made by both partners for 3-4 weeks. It will be 20cm wide and 40cm deep.

Although it prefers FIR and beech forests, the black woodpecker's nest can occasionally be found in old poplars. It rarely nests near human settlements. After the nest is ready, mating takes place.

After mating the female usually lays 4-6 eggs which are hatched one at a time by both parents in two-hour shifts. There are cases in which it can lay between 2 and 8 eggs. Incubation lasts about two weeks.

At birth the Cubs are blind and helpless. Feeding them is somewhat more cumbersome. After the first week when I open my eyes I get the food with pleasure. When they begin to gain strength they struggle to reach the mouth of the hollow first to be fed first or more. After a month the young leave the nest and stay with their parents for another week.

The approximate life expectancy is 10-12 years.

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