| Red-headed woodpecker | |
|---|---|
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| At a bird feeder inRondeau Provincial Park, Ontario | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Picidae |
| Genus: | Melanerpes |
| Species: | M. erythrocephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanerpes erythrocephalus | |
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| Approximate distribution map Breeding Year-round Nonbreeding | |
| Synonyms | |
Picus erythrocephalusLinnaeus, 1758 | |
Thered-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is a mid-sizedwoodpecker found in temperateNorth America. Its breeding habitat is open country acrosssouthern Canada and theeast-central United States. It is rated asleast concern on theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'sRed List of Endangered species, having been down-listed fromnear threatened in 2018.[2]
The red-headed woodpecker should not be confused with thered-bellied woodpecker, which is similar in size but has a vibrant orange-red crown andnape; the red-bellied woodpecker is named for the pale reddish blush of its lower belly and has a distinctly patterned black and white back rather than the solid black one of the red-headed woodpecker.
The English naturalistMark Catesby described and illustrated the red-headed woodpecker in his bookThe Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, which was published between 1729 and 1732. Catesby used the English name "The Red-headed Wood-pecker" and the LatinPicus capite toto rubro.[3] In 1758, the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus updated hisSystema Naturae to itstenth edition. He included the red-headed woodpecker and coined thebinomial namePicus erythrocephalus, citing Catesby's book.[4] The specific epithet combines theClassical Greek ἐρυθρός,eruthros, meaning "red", and κεφαλή,kephalos meaning "headed".[5] Thetype locality isSouth Carolina.[6] The red-headed woodpecker is one of 24 species now placed in thegenusMelanerpes, which was introduced by the English ornithologistWilliam Swainson in 1832 specifically to accommodate the red-headed woodpecker.[7][8] The species ismonotypic: nosubspecies are recognized.[8]
Adults are distinctly tricolored, with a black back and tail, a white belly and rump, and a red head and neck. The wings are black with white secondaryremiges. Adult males and females are identical in plumage.[9] Juveniles have similar markings, but their heads are grey.[9] Red-headed woodpeckers are entirely crimson above their shoulders.
These are mid-sized woodpeckers. Both sexes measure from 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) in length, with a wingspan of 42.5 cm (16.7 in).[10][11] They weigh from 56 to 97 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz), with an average of 76 g (2.7 oz).[12] Each wing measures 12.7–15 cm (5.0–5.9 in); the tail measures 6.6–8.5 cm (2.6–3.3 in), the bill measures 2.1–3 cm (0.83–1.18 in) and the tarsus measures 1.9–2.5 cm (0.75–0.98 in).[13] The maximum longevity in the wild is 9.9 years.[12]
This species gives atchur-tchurcall or adrum on its territory.
The red-headed woodpecker isomnivorous, eating insects, seeds,fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally smallrodents―even the eggs of other birds.[9] About two-thirds of its diet consists of plants.[9] Red-headed woodpeckers keep foodcaches.[14] This behavior is only seen in three otherspecies of woodpeckers: theacorn woodpecker, thedowny woodpecker, and thered-bellied woodpecker.[14] They have been known to stuff food in tree cavities, crevices, and under tree bark.[14] This keeps them well fed throughout the year.[14]
During the breeding season, a mature male red-headed woodpecker will establish aterritory and begincalling and drumming to attract a mate.[15] Once the male has paired with a female, the relationship is believed to be mostlymonogamous, and that they will remain paired for multiple breeding seasons.[16][14] It is uncertain whether these relationships are truly monogamous as there have been reports ofpolygyny.[16]
When in an established territory, the parents become very territorial.[17] They have been known to destroynests and eggs of other birds in their territory.[17] Females choose the location of their newnesting cavity, indicating their choice by tapping on a site.[15] This site could be a natural cavity, the wintering cavity used by the male, a cavity used the season before, a fence post, utility poles, or a dead tree.[15][14] If the chosen site does not already have a nesting cavity, then both parents will drill out the nesting cavity, though the male will do most of the work.[15][16] The chosen locations of these cavities are mostly in dead trees or utility poles between 2.45 and 24.5 m (8.0 and 80.4 ft) above the ground.[9] In early May, the female lays four to seven white eggs, which areincubated for two weeks.[9] The female incubates the eggs during the day and the male takes over at night.[15] After hatching, the young are cared for by both parents.[15] The young will stay in the nest until they are old enough tofledge, which is usually after 27 to 31 days.[15] After the firstbrood leaves the nest, the parents may start a second brood while still taking care of the fledglings from the first brood, though the first brood will not need as much care.[15][16] This second brood may be raised in the same nesting cavity as the first, but it is common for the parents to make a fresh nesting cavity.[15] The fledglings are proficient flyers, and most are able to feed and care for themselves without too much help from the parents.[16] Most of the fledglings will disperse on their own within a couple of weeks, but if a fledgling is still in the territory after a few weeks the parents will chase them out to force them to disperse.[16] Two broods can be raised in a single nesting season.[9]
By late October, northern birds begin tomigrate to the southern parts of the range to overwinter. Most will return to their breeding range by late April.[18][19] Southern birds may not migrate.
The red-headed woodpecker was returned to a designation ofleast concern on theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'sRed List of Endangered Species in 2018, having been downgraded tonear threatened in 2004 after it appeared to have experienced a 65.5% decline in population over 40 years.[1] From 1966 to 2015 there was a greater than 1.5% annual population decline throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and central Florida.[20] Most of the decline in red-headed Woodpeckers can be attributed to loss ofhabitat and thecompetition for nesting cavities with theinvasiveEuropean starling.[14][21]
Increased habitat management is claimed to have helped in part in stabilizing its numbers, leading to its down-listing.[2]
The red-headed woodpecker was historically a common species in southern Canada and the east-central United States. Consistent long-term population declines have resulted in red-headed woodpecker's threatened status in Canada and several states in the US. Throughout most of its range, it inhabits areas that have been heavily altered by humans. Factors attributed to the red-headed woodpecker's decline include loss of overall habitat and, within habitats, loss of standing dead wood required for nest sites,[22] limitations in food supply,[23] and possible nest-site competition with other cavity nesters such as European starlings or red-bellied woodpeckers.[24][25]
In 1996, theUnited States Postal Service issued a 2-centpostage stamp depicting a perched red-headed woodpecker.[26] The stamp was discontinued at some time thereafter, but re-issued in 1999 and remained available for purchase until 2006.[27]
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| Other | |
