Woodpeckers
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 Hairy Woodpecker | ||||||||||
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Many, see text. |
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They have a world-wide distribution with many species, usually numbered at 218 (including the Ivory-billed).
Some woodpeckers and wrynecks in the order Piciformes have zygodactyl or “yoked" feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. These feet, though adapted for clinging to a vertical surface, can be used for grasping or perching. Several species have only three toes. The long tongue found in some woodpeckers can be darted forward to capture insects.
Woodpeckers gained their English name because of the habit of some species of tapping and pecking noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. This is both a means of communication to signal possession of territory to their rivals, and a method of echo-locating grubs under the bark of the tree.
Woodpeckers inspired Walter Lantz to create the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker.
This group is related to other Piciformes as below:
Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae, (woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks)
- Family Capitonidae, (barbets)
- Family Ramphastidae, (toucans)
- Family Indicatoridae, (honeyguides)
- Galbulidae, (jacamars)
- Family Bucconidae, (puffbirds etc)
The last two families are sometimes separated as the order Galbuliformes.
Some distinctive groups of woodpeckers, including the sapsuckers (genus Sphyrapicus) and the small wrynecks (genus Jynx) and piculets (genera Picumnus, Sasia and Nesoctites) have their own group articles.
In February 2005 the Canadian scientist Dr Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian IQ in terms of their innovation in feeding habits. Woodpeckers were named among the most intelligent birds based on this scale.
Species list
- Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Rufous-necked Wryneck, Jynx ruficollis
- Orinoco Piculet, Picumnus pumilus
- Speckled Piculet, Picumnus innominatus
- Bar-breasted Piculet, Picumnus aurifrons
- Lafresnaye's Piculet, Picumnus lafresnayi
- Golden-spangled Piculet, Picumnus exilis
- Ecuadorian Piculet, Picumnus sclateri
- Scaled Piculet, Picumnus squamulatus
- White-bellied Piculet, Picumnus spilogaster
- Guianan Piculet, Picumnus minutissimus
- Spotted Piculet, Picumnus pygmaeus
- Speckle-chested Piculet, Picumnus steindachneri
- White-barred Piculet, Picumnus cirratus
- Varzea Piculet, Picumnus varzeae
- Ocellated Piculet, Picumnus dorbygnianus
- Ochre-collared Piculet, Picumnus temminckii
- White-wedged Piculet, Picumnus albosquamatus
- Rusty-necked Piculet, Picumnus fuscus
- Rufous-breasted Piculet, Picumnus rufiventris
- Tawny Piculet, Picumnus fulvescens
- Ochraceous Piculet, Picumnus limae
- Mottled Piculet, Picumnus nebulosus
- Plain-breasted Piculet, Picumnus castelnau
- Fine-barred Piculet, Picumnus subtilis
- Olivaceous Piculet, Picumnus olivaceus
- Grayish Piculet, Picumnus granadensis
- Chestnut Piculet, Picumnus cinnamomeus
- African Piculet, Sasia africana
- Rufous Piculet, Sasia abnormis
- White-browed Piculet, Sasia ochracea
- Antillean Piculet, Nesoctites micromegas
- White Woodpecker, Melanerpes candidus
- Lewis' Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis
- Guadeloupe Woodpecker, Melanerpes herminieri
- Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Melanerpes portoricensis
- Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
- Golden-naped Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysauchen
- Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes pucherani
- Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Melanerpes cruentatus
- Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Melanerpes flavifrons
- White-fronted Woodpecker, Melanerpes cactorum
- Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Melanerpes striatus
- Jamaican Woodpecker, Melanerpes radiolatus
- Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Melanerpes chrysogenys
- Gray-breasted Woodpecker, Melanerpes hypopolius
- Yucatan Woodpecker, Melanerpes pygmaeus
- Red-crowned Woodpecker, Melanerpes rubricapillus
- Hoffmann's Woodpecker, Melanerpes hoffmannii
- Gila Woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons
- Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
- West Indian Woodpecker, Melanerpes superciliaris
- Williamson's Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
- Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
- Red-breasted Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber
- Cuban Woodpecker, Xiphidiopicus percussus
- Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
- Nubian Woodpecker, Campethera nubica
- Bennett's Woodpecker, Campethera bennettii
- Reichenow's Woodpecker, Campethera scriptoricauda
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Campethera abingoni
- Mombasa Woodpecker, Campethera mombassica
- Knysna Woodpecker, Campethera notata
- Little Green Woodpecker, Campethera maculosa
- Green-backed Woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
- Tullberg's Woodpecker, Campethera tullbergi
- Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
- Brown-eared Woodpecker, Campethera caroli
- Ground Woodpecker, Geocolaptes olivaceus
- Little Grey Woodpecker, Dendropicos elachus
- Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Dendropicos poecilolaemus
- Abyssinian Woodpecker, Dendropicos abyssinicus
- Cardinal Woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens
- Gabon Woodpecker, Dendropicos gabonensis
- Melancholy Woodpecker, Dendropicos lugubris
- Stierling's Woodpecker, Dendropicos stierlingi
- Bearded Woodpecker, Dendropicos namaquus
- Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Dendropicos pyrrhogaster
- Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Dendropicos xantholophus
- Elliot's Woodpecker, Dendropicos elliotii
- Grey Woodpecker, Dendropicos goertae
- African Grey-headed Woodpecker, Dendropicos spodocephalus
- Olive Woodpecker, Dendropicos griseocephalus
- Brown-backed Woodpecker, Dendropicos obsoletus
- Sulawesi Woodpecker, Dendrocopos temminckii
- Philippine Woodpecker, Dendrocopos maculatus
- Brown-capped Woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus
- Sunda Woodpecker, Dendrocopos moluccensis
- Grey-capped Woodpecker, Dendrocopos canicapillus
- Pygmy Woodpecker, Dendrocopos kizuki
- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor
- Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos auriceps
- Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos macei
- Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos atratus
- Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Dendrocopos mahrattensis
- Arabian Woodpecker, Dendrocopos dorae
- Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Dendrocopos hyperythrus
- Darjeeling Woodpecker, Dendrocopos darjellensis
- Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos cathpharius
- Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos medius
- White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
- Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
- Syrian Woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus
- White-winged Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucopterus
- Sind Woodpecker, Dendrocopos assimilis
- Himalayan Woodpecker, Dendrocopos himalayensis
- Striped Woodpecker, Picoides lignarius
- Checkered Woodpecker, Picoides mixtus
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Picoides scalaris
- Nuttall's Woodpecker, Picoides nuttallii
- Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
- Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus
- Strickland's Woodpecker, Picoides stricklandi
- Arizona Woodpecker, Picoides arizonae
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis
- White-headed Woodpecker, Picoides albolarvatus
- Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus
- Black-backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
- Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Veniliornis callonotus
- Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Veniliornis dignus
- Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Veniliornis nigriceps
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Veniliornis fumigatus
- Little Woodpecker, Veniliornis passerinus
- Dot-fronted Woodpecker, Veniliornis frontalis
- White-spotted Woodpecker, Veniliornis spilogaster
- Blood-colored Woodpecker, Veniliornis sanguineus
- Red-rumped Woodpecker, Veniliornis kirkii
- Choco Woodpecker, Veniliornis chocoensis
- Golden-collared Woodpecker, Veniliornis cassini
- Red-stained Woodpecker, Veniliornis affinis
- Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Veniliornis maculifrons
- Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Piculus simplex
- Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Piculus callopterus
- Lita Woodpecker, Piculus litae
- White-throated Woodpecker, Piculus leucolaemus
- Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Piculus flavigula
- Golden-green Woodpecker, Piculus chrysochloros
- Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Piculus aurulentus
- Golden-olive Woodpecker, Piculus rubiginosus
- Gray-crowned Woodpecker, Piculus auricularis
- Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Piculus rivolii
- Black-necked Woodpecker, Colaptes atricollis
- Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Colaptes punctigula
- Green-barred Woodpecker, Colaptes melanochloros
- Golden-breasted Woodpecker, Colaptes melanolaimu
- Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
- Gilded Flicker, Colaptes chrysoides
- Fernandina's Flicker, Colaptes fernandinae
- Chilean Flicker, Colaptes pitius
- Andean Flicker, Colaptes rupicola
- Campo Flicker, Colaptes campestris
- Cinnamon Woodpecker, Celeus loricatus
- Rufous Woodpecker, Celeus brachyurus
- Scaly-breasted Woodpecker, Celeus grammicus
- Waved Woodpecker, Celeus undatus
- Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Celeus castaneus
- Chestnut Woodpecker, Celeus elegans
- Pale-crested Woodpecker, Celeus lugubris
- Blond-crested Woodpecker, Celeus flavescens
- Cream-colored Woodpecker, Celeus flavus
- Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Celeus spectabilis
- Ringed Woodpecker, Celeus torquatus
- Helmeted Woodpecker, Dryocopus galeatus
- Lineated Woodpecker, Dryocopus lineatus
- Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
- Black-bodied Woodpecker, Dryocopus schulzi
- White-bellied Woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis
- Andaman Woodpecker, Dryocopus hodgei
- Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius
- Powerful Woodpecker, Campephilus pollens
- Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, Campephilus haematogaster
- Red-necked Woodpecker, Campephilus rubricollis
- Robust Woodpecker, Campephilus robustus
- Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Campephilus melanoleucos
- Guayaquil Woodpecker, Campephilus gayaquilensis
- Pale-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus guatemalensis
- Cream-backed Woodpecker, Campephilus leucopogon
- Magellanic Woodpecker, Campephilus magellanicus
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis (long-thought to be extinct, specimens were observed in Arkansas in 2004)
- Imperial Woodpecker, Campephilus imperialis (extinct)
- Banded Woodpecker, Picus mineaceus
- Lesser Yellownape, Picus chlorolophus
- Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Picus puniceus
- Greater Yellownape, Picus flavinucha
- Checker-throated Woodpecker, Picus mentalis
- Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Picus viridanus
- Laced Woodpecker, Picus vittatus
- Streak-throated Woodpecker, Picus xanthopygaeus
- Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Picus squamatus
- Japanese Woodpecker, Picus awokera
- Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
- Levaillant's Woodpecker, Picus vaillantii
- Red-collared Woodpecker, Picus rabieri
- Black-headed Woodpecker, Picus erythropygius
- Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus
- Olive-backed Woodpecker, Dinopium rafflesii
- Himalayan Flameback, Dinopium shorii
- Common Flameback, Dinopium javanense
- Black-rumped Flameback, Dinopium benghalense
- White-naped Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes festivus
- Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus
- Pale-headed Woodpecker, Gecinulus grantia
- Bamboo Woodpecker, Gecinulus viridis
- Okinawa Woodpecker, Sapheopipo noguchii
- Maroon Woodpecker, Blythipicus rubiginosus
- Bay Woodpecker, Blythipicus pyrrhotis
- Orange-backed Woodpecker, Reinwardtipicus validus
- Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Meiglyptes tristis
- Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Meiglyptes jugularis
- Buff-necked Woodpecker, Meiglyptes tukki
- Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Hemicircus concretus
- Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Hemicircus canente
- Ashy Woodpecker, Mulleripicus fulvus
- Sooty Woodpecker, Mulleripicus funebris
- Great Slaty Woodpecker, Mulleripicus pulverulentus