Mountain woodpecker | Facts & Information
# Mountain woodpecker | Facts & Information
Mountain woodpecker | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Mountain woodpecker
The mountain woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) belongs to the genus Picoides, family Picidae. It is a medium-sized woodpecker specific to Old coniferous forests. It can be found in mixed coniferous and deciduous forests.
Mountain woodpecker
890
Animals
36
Species
8
Languages
32
Facts
Origin
In central and Northern Europe. It is a sedentary species. In Europe the mountain Woodpecker has a population of 350,000 – 1,100,000 pairs. In Romania the population is estimated at 15,000-20,000 pairs.
Larger populations than ours are only in Russia.
Reducing nesting sites by cutting down dry trees poses a threat to the mountain Woodpecker leading to habitat loss and population decline.
It can be found abroad or in the literature under the following names: Eurasian three-toed Woodpecker, Dreizehenspecht, Pico Tridactylo Euroasiatico, Picchio tridattilo, Miyubigera, Drieteenspecht, Pic tridactyle, etc.
Read Also the flight of birds
Feeding of mountain woodpeckers
The mountain woodpecker feeds on insects, beetles, and their larvae. They prefer xylophagous insects (wood-eating ones).
It feeds at the base of trees using its sharp beak. When searching for food, it clings to the tree well with its short, powerful claws in an upright position. It rests in the tail and strongly strikes the bark of the tree.
Its basic tool in the search for food is the sharp 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.
Features Mountain Woodpecker
The mountain woodpecker has a body length of 20-24cm and a weight of 60-85 grams. The wingspan is 30-35cm. Specific to woodpeckers is that it has only three toes, compared to the other species of woodpeckers that have four.
The male has a yellow crest and is larger than the female. The plumage is composed of black and white feathers.
It is a territorial species that protects its territory both during and outside the breeding season. They give in to the big woodpecker or white-backed woodpecker because they are bigger and stronger.
The males are the ones who beat the darabana longer and stronger with sequences of 1.3 seconds with 14-26 strokes.
The mountain woodpecker is a lively and slightly skittish bird. The cry is not loud but occasionally it is strong and sharp. It looks like a mountain Woodpecker.
See also bird mating
Breeding mountain woodpeckers
When it comes to mating the mountain Woodpecker is quite strict with peers of the same sex. Males do not tolerate other males and females other females. Instead they are indifferent if a bird of the other sex is present.
The nesting territory of a pair covers an area of 70 hectares. The species is said to be monogamous and the pairs formed remain for life.
Like other species of woodpeckers, the mountain Woodpecker digs a new nest each year, the old one being occupied by other needy birds. Hollows are made in dry trees, preferably at a height as high as possible (between 2 and 10 meters). The entrance to the Hollow is usually round and has a diameter of 5cm.
After mating, which takes place in May, the female lays 4-6 white eggs. Incubation is done by both parents and lasts two weeks. Chicks fed by both parents can fly after 22-25 days. They get used to nature and stay with their parents for another month after which they fly to their homes.
Life expectancy is 6-7 years.
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Mountain woodpecker | Facts & InformationMountain Woodpecker | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Mountain Woodpecker