White backed pecker | Facts & Information

Origin

In our country are estimated between 16,000 and 24,000 pairs. Only in Russia is recorded a larger population of white-backed woodpeckers. In Finland it is extinct.

It prefers deciduous forests with wood in different phases of decomposition. It is a sedentary species.

The scientific name comes from the Greek language. "Dendron "means tree and" kopos "to hit, and" leukos "white and" notos " back. In translation it would mean "the bird with the White back that strikes the tree".

Habitat destruction by reducing nesting sites and hollow trees is the species ' main hazard.

Read Also the flight of birds

Feeding white-backed woodpecker

The main food of white-backed woodpeckers is made up of beetles and their larvae.

Besides larvae, they also consume other insects, nuts, seeds and others..

Features of white-backed woodpeckers

The White-backed woodpecker is easily identified as the largest mottled woodpecker. The body length is 25-28cm, the wingspan (wingspan) is 40cm, and the weight is 100-115grams.

The neck and beak are long. As with other species the male is larger and has a longer beak. The male has a red spot on the top of his head. The plumage is white with black and a little red.

It is the most solitary species of woodpecker. Both sexes are territorial and defend their foraging territories with inversion. Females bat less than males.

When they do, they announce their presence or protect their territory. When the male knocks, it is heard far enough away because the sound is loud.

Dendrocopos leucotos leucotos-Northern, Central and Eastern Europe

Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi-Asia, Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

Dendrocopos leucotos tangi-Sichuan province, west of China.

Dendrocopos leucotos subcirris-Hokkaido, north of Japan.

Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri-Honshu, Japan.

Dendrocopos leucotos namiyei-Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Japan, and Cheju-do island, Korea

Dendrocopos leucotos takahashii-Ullung Island, east of korea

Dendrocopos leucotos owstoni-Amami-O-Shima Island, Japan.

Dendrocopos leucotos fohkiensis-in the mountains of Fujian province, southeast China.

Dendrocopos leucotos insularis-Taiwan.

Dendrocopos leucotos quelpartensis

Dendrocopos leucotos uralensis

See also bird mating

Breeding white-backed woodpecker

During the mating season, in the spring, the male starts a few nests, but most remain unfinished. The final Nest is chosen by the female who contributes to its completion. Old nests are rarely used, usually the pair make a new nest every year.

The height of the nest varies between 5 and 30 meters. Usually the nest is white-backed woodpeckers is at its highest height compared to the rest of the woodpeckers in Europe. The entrance can be round or oval, and the depth of the nest is 25 to 40 cm.

After mating the female lays 4-6 white eggs in April-May. Incubation lasts almost 10 days. Both parents participate in the hatching of eggs. Chicks, cared for by parents, can fly away after a month. Statistics say that between 60 and 80% of puppies reach maturity.

After they fly out of the nest they become independent and are no longer fed by their parents.

Life expectancy is 10 years. The longest-lived bird lived 15 years and 9 months.