Crimson Crested Woodpecker

Crimson Crested Woodpecker - Dzięcioł szkarłatnoczuby

 

 Brazil, Pantanal, 2013

 

Description

    Crimson-crested Woodpecker occurs regularly from Panama south to northern Argentina and throughout Amazonia. It is a very large, robust woodpecker with a large red crest. The male is distinguished from other co-occurring large woodpeckers by the combination of barred underparts and an entirely red head that lacks facial stripes, and has only a suggestion of a black-and-white "slash" below the eye. Females have a black front to the crest, and a very broad white malar stripe that continues into the white strip down the neck.

 

Habitat

  Crimson-crested Woodpecker is often seen in pairs or in small groups of 4 or 5 birds in the same large dead tree. Found in almost every habitat ( from forest to forest edge and light woodland) with large dead trees, except urban areas.

Voice

  The call of this widespread but wary bird is a loud, ringing CHEE-sic. Both sexes drum.

Crimson-crested woodpecker

Diet

  This woodpecker performs long flights from tree to tree, in order to explore the trunks, branches and bark for food. Crimson-crested Woodpecker moves on the underside of limbs, or hangs upside-down on branches. Crimson-crested woodpeckers chip out holes, often quite large, while searching out insects in trees. They mainly eat wood-boring insects and larvae, as well as ants, termites, small vertebrates and caterpillars. The animal matter is sometimes supplemented with berries. Several of these large woodpeckers may be seen (4 or more) attracted to the same dead tree while feeding.

Reproduction

Breeding season depends on the locality.
During breeding season, Crimson-crested Woodpecker performs some displays with erect crest, while it swings the head. These displays are accompanied by calls. These calls are low and uttered just before copulation, and when the birds take turns during incubation at nest. These calls strengthen the pair bonds.
However, between two rivals, the calls are louder, even if this species is rather silent. During these disputes, males give shrill piping lacking several minutes. Then, the intruder is chased away from the territory, or both males fight in flight.
Crimson-crested Woodpecker nests in holes excavated by both adults, relatively high in trees or stubs. The entrance is fairly large, about 45 to 50 cm in diameter, and oval-shaped.
Female lays 2 to 3 white eggs, sometimes four. Incubation lasts about 9 to 14 days, by both sexes. Woodpeckers have short incubation period, but at contrary, nesting period is longer than in other birds’ species. Chicks are brooded and fed by both parents, and remain at nest for 3 to 4 weeks after hatching. Young remain within the family group until next breeding season.

 

Photos by others
 

 

Dan Busby

 

Homin Lin

 

Walt Barrows

Credits

Oiseaux-birds, Wikipedia