Great spotted woodpeckers are forest orderlies. The woodpecker is a forest bird. Description, photo. Woodpecker is a migratory bird or not

Anyone who has ever been to the forest has heard a dry, rattle knock. This is the sound of a woodpecker. This bird is distributed throughout the globe and is found wherever there is a forest. After all, a woodpecker lives only in trees, its legs are not adapted for walking on the ground. This interesting bird has long attracted the attention of scientists. There was a time when they even considered it a pest and tried to destroy it. But then they found out that the woodpecker is the orderly of the forest, so now he is often called the forest doctor. After all, it hollows only dry trees infected with larvae, often saving them from death.

What are woodpeckers

This bird belongs to the Woodpecker family, which includes more than two hundred species. The greatest variety is observed in the forests of North America. And in our country there are just over ten species of woodpeckers. The most famous of them are:

Great Spotted Woodpecker. This bird is rather large, the wingspan sometimes reaches half a meter. Most common in European forests.
It looks like a small spotted woodpecker almost the size of a sparrow.
Another large species that is often found in our forests is the gall, or black woodpecker. This bird is quite noisy and active, gouges large hollows and eats many harmful insects.
The green woodpecker looks quite unusual and beautiful. But he is very careful, so it is difficult to see him.
The three-toed woodpecker is an unusual bird as it lacks one toe.
This family also includes the swivel neck, although it is very different from other woodpeckers in behavior and appearance. She does not make hollows and does not know how to climb trees.

Woodpecker bird description

Where do woodpeckers live?

This forest bird is found wherever there are trees. Most species live in forests and prefer solitude. But some can live next to a person, for example, in city parks and squares. The only condition for the normal life of a woodpecker is the presence of trees, so it can be found almost anywhere on the planet. They are absent only in the Subpolar region and on the islands near Australia. The woodpecker is a sedentary bird. He rarely flies far from his place of residence. Usually the area where the bird feeds is about 2 hectares. Very rarely, in search of food, individual individuals can move long distances, but in this case they do not return back. This feature of them is the answer to the question of whether the woodpecker is a migratory bird or not. Most of them are omnivorous and easily tolerate frost. Therefore, it makes no sense for them to fly away.

Woodpecker lifestyle

It is very interesting to observe how various birds of the forest behave. The woodpecker is quite unpretentious, he is not used to sitting around. It is enough for this bird to have trees for normal life. The most favorable conditions for their reproduction exist near rivers and other bodies of water, especially in rainy summers. At this time, the wood is exposed to various putrefactive processes and fungal diseases, as well as insect attacks. It is these trees that the woodpecker loves. This bird hammers them not only in search of food, it prepares a new hollow for itself every year. True, not all species of woodpeckers can do this. For example, turntables use ready-made hollows. A feature of the woodpeckers' lifestyle is their amazing ability to quickly climb a tree trunk. Nature has endowed them for these purposes with short paws with tenacious fingers and a strong tail. Even woodpecker chicks begin to climb the trunk before they fly. The lifestyle of this bird does not change even in winter. To answer the question of whether the woodpecker is a migratory bird or not, you just need to go to the forest or park on a quiet frosty day. The frequent fractional knock that spreads in the air is evidence that these birds remain in our area for the winter.

What does a woodpecker eat

What kind of bird can stay for the winter in our climate? Only the one that is omnivorous. Yes, woodpeckers can eat a lot.

Most often they, of course, feed on insects, which are eaten from under the bark of trees. To reach them, the woodpecker uses a long tongue, which is often twice the size of its beak. In addition, it is sticky and has sharp jagged edges. With their help, the woodpecker can get insects from narrow passages in the wood. In large quantities, this bird destroys insects and their larvae harmful to trees. Woodpeckers also eat various caterpillars, termites, ants and even snails. In the cold season, these birds feed mainly on the seeds of trees, most often conifers. But on occasion, they can eat berries and any fruits. In times of famine, many birds move closer to human dwellings and feed on food waste.

What is interesting about the woodpecker

This is the only bird that has an ear for music. Woodpeckers can knock on wood for more than just foraging or making a nest. Sometimes you can watch a bird hammer on a dry branch and listen.

The woodpecker's tongue is amazing. In some individuals, it can reach a length of 10 centimeters. It is sticky, with sharp notches, on which, like hooks, the woodpecker attaches insects from under the bark of a tree. With its help, he can also feast on the fruits.
The woodpecker is one of the few birds that cannot walk on the ground. Their legs and tail are adapted only for climbing trees.

So, we have presented a description of the bird. The woodpecker is very beautiful. A bright little red riding hood and variegated color make these birds an adornment of any forest.

What are the benefits of woodpeckers

These birds were previously considered pests of the forest, they even tried to exterminate them. But then it turned out that woodpeckers only hammer sick and old trees infected with insects. By doing this, they save the forest from the spread of pests. In addition, woodpeckers make a new hollow for themselves every year. And in their old dwellings squirrels and other birds live.

Woodpeckers help forest dwellers not only by providing shelter. Some species of these birds, when foraging, remove entire areas of bark from trees, exposing insect passages. And it's easier for other birds to get them. And now the woodpecker is considered one of the most useful forest birds.

Woodpeckers are widespread in Eurasia and North Africa. These birds are loud, noisy and noticeable due to their bright, variegated plumage, made in black and white with a bright red cap in the back of the head.

Woodpeckers are small to medium sized birds that are mostly arboreal. Their long, straight, tapered beak allows them to extract insects right from under the bark of trees. The woodpecker's skull is large and strong. The tail is wedge-shaped, made of hard feathers, which allows it to be used as a support. The plumage of all species is variegated, black and white, with red or yellow markings on the head and other parts of the body.

What do they eat

Depending on the season and habitat, woodpeckers prefer animal or plant foods.

In spring and summer, woodpeckers eat large quantities of various insects and larvae. Beetles (barbel, bark beetles, golden beetles, stag beetles, leaf beetles, ladybugs, weevils, ground beetles), caterpillars and imago of butterflies, horn-tails, aphids become their food. Woodpeckers willingly feed on ants; in the stomachs of individual individuals, ornithologists have found from 300 to 500 of these insects. Woodpeckers also eat crustaceans and molluscs.

Woodpeckers get such food on tree trunks or on the ground. The woodpecker sits on the trunk from below and climbs upward in a spiral, inspects the cracks along the way and launches its long tongue (about 4 cm) into them. When insects are found, the woodpecker breaks the bark with its beak or makes a funnel from which it takes prey to the surface. From a height of 12 to 16 m, the woodpecker flies to the next tree. The bird rarely hollows healthy trees and opts for dried or pest-infested trees. On the ground, woodpeckers ravage anthills.

In winter, woodpeckers often move closer to human dwellings, where they feed on bird feeders or find food of anthropogenic origin in garbage dumps. Sometimes they can feed on carrion or destroy the nests of songbirds, eat eggs and chicks.

During this period, birds also switch to vegetable feed - seeds of conifers, nuts and seeds of hazel, beech, oak, hornbeam, almond, acorns. Woodpeckers peck bones and feed on the pulp of gooseberries, currants, cherries, plums, raspberries, juniper, buckthorn and ash. In spring, birds can punch through the bark of trees and drink sap.

Where dwell

In Africa, woodpeckers are common in Algeria and Tunisia, Morocco and the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

In Europe, they live almost everywhere, except for Ireland, Scandinavia and the Russian Arctic. In the Balkans and Asia Minor, they are found in the mountains. A large population lives in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and northern Iran in territories near the Caspian Sea.

Woodpeckers have a wide variety of habitats: from the northern taiga to forest plantations, gardens and parks. Birds nest up to the upper border of the forest: on average, up to 2000 m above sea level. In all regions of their habitat, woodpeckers are sedentary birds, and they migrate only in case of lack of food.

Common types

A small bird with a long, straight beak. Body length from 14 to 16 cm. Body weight ranges from 20 to 30 g. The plumage is variegated, black-and-white above and whitish-gray below. At the bottom of the back there is a bright diamond-shaped spot. The forehead and crown of the head are brownish-gray, the occiput is black. The male has red feathers on the back of his head. Dark "whiskers" begin from the beak. The cheeks and throat are white. The back is dark. The belly is whitish-gray with dark streaks. The iris is reddish-brown or red, the legs and beak are dark gray. Juveniles are darker and more variegated. Females do not have red feathers on the back of their heads, but otherwise they do not differ from the male.

The species is common in eastern and southeastern Asia.

A medium-sized woodpecker that lives in the foothills and lower belt of the Himalayas (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal).

Body length reaches 20 cm, weight from 37 to 50 g. The beak is of medium length, chisel-like, with a wide base. The plumage on the back and wings is variegated, black and white, the belly is light, the “cap” is colorful. The forehead is yellowish-brown in both the male and the female. But the crown of the male is lemon-yellow, and the back of the head is red, and the female's both the crown and the back of the head are yellow. The cheeks and chin are white with a black mustache. The breast and belly are white with dark streaks.

The species range includes countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

A medium-sized woodpecker. The plumage on the back is black with white transverse stripes. The breast is light brown. Neck with black stripes on each side. Males have a red head with an orange forehead, females - black.

Small bird with a dense constitution, inhabitant of Indochina. Body length up to 22 cm, weight from 42 to 52 g. The back and wings are black with a white spotted pattern. The neck is whitish, the breast and belly are yellowish-buffy with thin longitudinal black streaks. The undertail is red. The head is white on the sides with a black stripe of "mustache". The male has a bright red cap of feathers from the forehead to the back of the head. In the female, it is black.

The species is common in Hindustan and Indochina. It is a small bird with a long, straight beak. Body length about 18 cm, weight from 28 to 46 g. The plumage in the forehead and crown of the head is golden yellow. The nape of the male is bright red, the female is brownish-buffy. "Mustache" is poorly expressed. The cheeks, chin and neck are white with brown streaks. The upper body is black or black-brown with white spots and streaks, the loin is white. The tummy is white with an orange-red spot in the center. Young birds are feathered in brown color.

Body length from 20 to 25 cm, weight from 53 to 74 g. The beak is long. The back of the male is black with white transverse stripes, the belly is red-chestnut. The female has a brown back. Males have a red shiny cap on their heads; females have black ones with white spots. The legs are gray, the iris is red.

The habitat begins in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Assam. The bird is also found in China, Vietnam and Thailand.

Body length about 22 cm, weight from 50 to 85 g. The head is round, the beak is short, dark gray. The upper body is black with white streaks on the wings. The tummy and sides are yellowish with dark longitudinal strokes. The iris is red-brown in color, the paws are gray. "Mustache" is poorly expressed. There is a bright red cap on the crown. Young birds are dull.

The species nests in temperate and southern latitudes of Europe, as well as in Asia Minor.

Body length from 26 to 31 cm, wingspan 44-49 cm, body weight from 100 to 130 g. In the male, the forehead and head-flanks are white, the “cap” is red with white spots, the back of the head and back are black. The "mustache" is black. The tummy is white, with an ocher bloom; sides with dark longitudinal streaks. The undertail is pink. The female has a black cap on her head.

The bird lives in the south of Eurasia.

The body length is from 22 to 27 cm, the wingspan is 42-47 cm, the weight is from 60 to 100 g. The plumage is dominated by black and white tones, the undertail is bright red. The top of the head, back and upper tail are black. The forehead, cheeks, shoulders and tummy are brownish-white. The tail is black. The iris is brown or red, the beak is black, the paws are dark brown.

The species is found in Africa, Europe and Asia Minor.

The bird's habitat covers Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.

Body length up to 23 cm, weight from 55 to 80 g. The top of the head is black, the forehead, sides of the head and cheeks are white. On the back of the head, the male has a bright red stripe, the female does not. The "mustache" is well developed. The throat, neck and tummy are off-white. The undertail is red. The iris is red. The beak is dark gray. The paws are gray.

The species is found in Central Asia, Dzungaria and Kashgaria.

Body length from 22 to 24 cm, weight about 70 g. The beak is of medium length, straight. On the shoulder blades and wings there are large white spots, the belly and undertail are bright red. The forehead is white.

Male and female: the main differences

Sexual dimorphism in woodpeckers is manifested in slight variations in the color of the plumage of males and females. The most common variant: in males, the crown and back of the head are red, and in females - black or yellow.

Reproduction

Woodpeckers are monogamous birds that start breeding at the end of their first year of life.

The mating season begins at the end of February and lasts until mid-May, when birds begin to build nests. Leading males scream aggressively, drum on branches. Females also make sounds and tap. Partners can chase each other and circle trees in characteristic flights.

After the formation of a pair, woodpeckers show aggression towards other birds, especially the current ones.

The male chooses the tree for the nest and hollows him for about two weeks. The hollow is located at a height of up to 8 m, its depth is from 25 to 35 cm, the diameter is about 12 cm. The letch is round or oval, from 4.5 to 6 cm in diameter.

In late April or early May, the female lays 4 to 8 white eggs. Both partners are engaged in incubation for 12-13 days, but the male spends more time in the nest. Chicks are born naked, blind and helpless. Both parents feed them, making up to 300 feeds per day. The chicks stay in the nest from 20 to 23 days, after which they become on the wing. The brood breaks up, but for another 15-20 days the chicks stay near the nest.

The average lifespan of woodpeckers is 9 years.

Voice

Woodpeckers are noisy birds. Their voices are heard during the mating season, and in disputes over territory, and in case of fright. The most frequent sound is a sharp and abrupt "kick". An agitated bird publishes it quickly, many times in a row, which is heard as "ki-ki-ki" or "kr-kr-kr". From mid-January to the end of June, the woodpecker's cries are accompanied by "drum roll" - a trill from the vibration of branches under the rapid blows of the bird's beak. With its help, woodpeckers also communicate with each other. In good weather, the sound is heard within a radius of 1.5 km from the bird.

The woodpecker is a noticeable and noisy bird, often lives next to humans, feeds on food waste. But at the same time, the bird prefers to spend time alone, even during the nesting period, males and females often forage at different ends of the common territory.
Woodpeckers use empty cans or pieces of iron as drums to sound drumming over long distances - in this way they call other woodpeckers to them.

Imagine banging your head against a tree 12,000 times during the day. At the end of the day, your head would surely be splitting with pain, but woodpeckers do it every day. Woodpeckers living alone in the forest can be identified by their characteristic waviness of flight: three or four quick flaps of their wings raise them up and then lower them down.

There are about 200 species of woodpeckers. These birds have a very wide habitat, but they mainly live in wooded areas. The sizes of different species of woodpeckers vary from 15 to 53 cm.

Due to the huge energy consumption woodpecker is constantly hungry. For example, black woodpecker(native to North America) in one sitting can eat 900 beetle larvae or 1000 ants; the green woodpecker eats up to 2,000 ants a day. This truly "ravenous appetite" has a purpose: woodpeckers play an important role in controlling insects, helping to limit the spread of tree diseases by eliminating disease vectors. Thus, the woodpecker bird helps to preserve the forests.

No other bird is capable of such a woodpecker

Woodpecker is capable of hitting wood at a speed of 20-25 times per second(which is almost twice the speed of a machine gun) 8000-12000 times a day!

The woodpecker is capable of striking wood at a speed of 20-25 times per second (which is almost twice the speed of a machine gun) 8000-12000 times a day!

When this bird strikes a tree, it uses incredible power. If the same force was applied to the skull of any other bird, its brain would quickly turn to mush. Moreover, if a person hit his head against a tree with the same force, he, if he survived after such a concussion, would receive a very serious brain injury. However, a number of physiological structural features of the woodpecker prevent all these tragedies. How do they provide such reliable protection to the bird?

In a recent study, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley discovered four shockproof benefits of woodpeckers:

“A firm but resilient beak; a sinewy, springy structure (hyoid, or hyoid bone) that covers the entire skull and supports; spongy bone area in the head; a way of interaction between the skull and cerebrospinal fluid, suppressing vibration. "

The woodpecker shock absorption system is not based on one factor, but is the result of the combined action of several interdependent structures.

A woodpecker is a bird with a real shock absorber in its head.

When woodpecker drumming on wood at a speed of up to 22 times per second, his head is experiencing overloads reaching 1000 g (a person would be “knocked out” already at 80–100 g). How do woodpeckers manage to withstand such pressure? David Johanz writes:

“Every time a woodpecker strikes a tree, it experiences a stress equal to 1000 gravitational forces. This is more than 250 times the stress experienced by an astronaut when launching a rocket ... In most birds, the bones of the beak are connected to the bones of the skull - the bones that surround the brain. But in woodpeckers, the skull and beak are separated from each other by a cloth that looks like a sponge. It is this “pillow” that takes the brunt of the blow every time a woodpecker's beak plunges into a tree. The woodpecker's shock absorber works so well that, according to scientists, man has not yet come up with anything better. "

In addition, both the beak and the woodpecker's brain itself are surrounded by a special pillow that softens the blows.

The woodpecker shock absorber works so well that, according to scientists, a person has not yet come up with anything better.

In a perfectly straight line

During "drilling operations" the woodpecker's head moves at more than twice the speed of a bullet when fired. At this speed, any blow struck even at a slight angle would simply rip the bird's brain apart. However, the neck muscles of the woodpecker are so well coordinated that its head and beak move synchronously in an absolutely straight line. Moreover, the blow is absorbed by the special muscles of the head, which pull the woodpecker's skull away from its beak. everytime when he hits.

The woodpecker has the most unusual language in the world

After the woodpecker removes the bark from the tree, drills a hole in it and finds insect passages, it uses its long tongue to get insects and larvae from the depths. Its tongue is able to lengthen five times, and it is so thin that it even goes into ant passages. The tongue is equipped with nerve endings that determine the type of prey, and glands that secrete a sticky substance, thanks to which insects stick to it like flies to sticky tape.

While the tongue of most birds is attached to the back of the beak and sits in the mouth, the woodpecker's tongue does not grow from the mouth, but from the right nostril! Coming out of the right nostril, the tongue splits into two halves, which cover the whole head with the neck and come out through the hole in the beak, where they rejoin (See fig. 1). Simply amazing! Thus, when a woodpecker is flying and not using its tongue, it is kept curled up in the nostril and under the skin behind the neck!

Evolutionists believe that woodpecker descended from other birds with a normal tongue that came out of the beak. If a woodpecker's tongue was formed only by random mutations, they would first have to move the woodpecker's tongue into its right nostril and point it backwards, but then it would starve to death! A step-by-step evolution scenario (through mutation and natural selection) could never have created a woodpecker's tongue, since turning the tongue backwards would not provide the bird with any advantages - the language would be completely useless until then, until it makes a full circle around the head, returning to the base of the beak.

The unique design of the woodpecker's tongue clearly indicates that it is the result of intelligent design.

Coming out of the right nostril, the tongue splits into two halves, which cover the entire head with the neck, and exit through the opening in the beak, where they join again. A step-by-step evolution scenario could never create a woodpecker's tongue, since turning the tongue backwards would be useless until it made a full circle around the head, returning to the base of the beak.

The woodpecker has a real chisel beak

It has an extremely strong beak that most other birds do not have. Its beak is strong enough to forcefully enter a tree without folding like an accordion. After all, a woodpecker knocks it on wood at a speed of about 1000 beats per minute (almost twice the speed of a combat machine), and its speed at the moment of impact is up to 2000 km per hour.

The speed of the woodpecker's beak at the moment of impact of the tree reaches 2000 km per hour.

The tip of the woodpecker's beak is shaped like a chisel, and like a chisel, it is able to penetrate the hardest wood. However, unlike a construction tool, it never needs to be sharpened!

X-legs

Two toes on the woodpecker's foot are directed forward, and two are directed backward. It is this structure that makes it easy for him to move up, down and around tree trunks (most birds have three fingers pointing forward and one back). In addition, the suspension system, which includes the tendons and muscles of the legs, sharp claws and stiff tail feathers, on the tips of which are spikes for support, allows the woodpecker to absorb the force of lightning-fast repetitive blows.

Woodpecker eyes

When a woodpecker knocks on wood at a speed of up to 20 times per second, its eyelids close each time a moment before its beak approaches its target. This is a kind of mechanism for protecting the eyes from chips. Closed eyelids also hold the eyes and prevent them from flying out.

The woodpecker evolved?

Woodpecker design is an absolutely insoluble problem for those who believe in evolution. How could woodpeckers evolve a system of special shock absorbers step by step? If it had not been for it at the very beginning, all woodpeckers would have taken out their brains long ago. And if there was once a time when woodpeckers did not need to drill holes in trees, they would not need shock absorbers.

Suppose a woodpecker has a long tongue attached to the right nostril, but it completely lacks a strong beak, neck muscles, shock absorbers, etc. How would a woodpecker use its long tongue if it had no other auxiliary apparatus? On the other hand, let's say that the bird has all the tools necessary for drilling holes in the tree, but does not have a long tongue. He would have poked holes in the tree, looking forward to a delicious meal, but he could not get the insects. The thing is that in an irreducibly complex system, nothing can work if everything does not work.

For those who believe in woodpecker evolution, the fossil record presents another major challenge. There are practically no fossil woodpeckers in the annals, so it is impossible to track the supposed gradual development of woodpeckers from simple birds in it.

Conclusion

From the very beginning, the woodpecker had to have such a unique structure in order to survive in its head-crushing rhythm of life. This only testifies to one thing: God created a woodpecker with unique characteristics, as the book of Genesis tells us. Like all other living organisms, woodpeckers are strong evidence of the existence of a heavenly Creator!

Links and notes

Woodpecker head inspires shock designers

Perhaps, in the future, experts investigating the causes of the plane crash and decrypting the data of the black box will more than once remember the golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifons) with a kind word. Why? It's all about the shock absorber, which scientists created, inspired by the woodpeckers' ability to withstand hard braking.

The researchers decided to find artificial analogs in order to create a mechanical shock absorption system that would protect microelectronics under high power loads. To simulate the resistance to deformation of the woodpecker beak, they used a metal shock absorber in the form of a cylinder. The ability of the hyoid to distribute mechanical loads was simulated by a rubber layer embedded in a cylinder. The function of the skull and cerebrospinal fluid was performed by a layer of aluminum. Vibration resistance of cancellous bone was reproduced using tightly packed glass hollow balls with a diameter of 1 mm

To test their system, scientists placed it in a bullet and fired a gas gun at a thick aluminum wall. And what did they find? Their system protected the electronics inside the capsule from impacts up to 60,000 g. Modern black boxes are capable of withstanding shocks of no more than 1000 g.

In addition to its possible role in protecting the electronic filling of black boxes, such a shock absorber can be useful in the creation of concrete-piercing bombs, as well as a shield for spaceships from collisions with micrometeorites and space debris. It can also be used to protect electronics in cars and to create protective equipment for motorcyclists.

Marx P. Woodpecker's head inspires shock absorbers // New Scientist. Posted on newscientist.com February 4, 2011, accessed February 11, 2011.

Each of us had the opportunity to hear the sound of a woodpecker. When you watch this brisk multi-colored bird, you wonder how such a small body has enough strength to hammer a tree with such speed and zeal. What do we know about this feathered worker? Woodpecker - or not? Where does he live? What does it eat besides insects? How does it reproduce? The answers to all these questions, as well as photos of a beautiful and useful bird, are presented in the article. Happy reading and viewing!

Appearance

The woodpecker family consists of 30 bird species. They inhabit almost everything except Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica. The most common representative of this family in Russia is the spotted woodpecker. Migratory bird or not, we will learn about this later, but for now let's talk about its external features.

You can recognize the variegated woodpecker by its color: black and white body and wings, a red "cap" on the head and the same color to the feathers of the lower part of the tail. The paws of the bird are short, not adapted for movement on the ground. But the structure of the limbs (thin long spread fingers) allows the bird to snuggle well to the hooked sharp claws well to cling to the bark, which allows the bird to hold firmly on a vertical surface. The beak is chisel-shaped. Due to this structure of this part of the body, the woodpecker easily breaks off particles of the trunk and hollows wood. The speed of beak strikes reaches 10 times per second.

Where does he live?

Woodpecker - This fact is confirmed by all the literature of an encyclopedic nature. But it cannot be said that this species of birds lives only in the forest. It would be more correct to note that this is a wild bird that lives where there are trees. In addition to the forest, we can observe variegated woodpeckers in almost every city yard and park. The birds of this species settle in hollows, which hammer in the trunks of trees themselves in order to lay eggs in them and bring out chicks. Woodpecker - wintering or migratory bird? We will find out about this after we get acquainted with the information about what representatives of this species of birds eat.

What does a woodpecker eat?

This bird is omnivorous. In the warm season, insects are the main delicacy for her: caterpillars, ants, spiders, and various beetles. Woodpeckers living near water bodies can eat crustaceans and small snails. There are also cases when birds of this species feed on eggs and chicks of small breeds of wild birds (sparrows, tits). In settlements, woodpeckers can be observed in landfills, where they eat food waste. In the cold season, the woodpecker, a useful bird, feasts on seeds of plants, mainly coniferous trees. In spring, representatives of this genus of birds love to pamper themselves with birch sap. They hammer a hole in until the sweet liquid starts to drip, and then they drink it.

How does a woodpecker winter?

From the information presented above about what the bird eats in the cold season, it can be concluded that the woodpecker is a wintering bird. And this is absolutely true. The woodpecker lives where he was born. And if he was born where there is winter, it means that in that place he waits for it. Migration of birds of this species can be over short distances, only during severe frosts. Then woodpeckers can migrate from the forest closer to settlements. It is very difficult for them to eat at this time. In snowy winters, it is almost impossible to find food for birds. It is for this reason that woodpeckers can fly to human habitation. Caring people feed these, however, like other wintering birds, hanging feeders with food on the trees and roofs of houses. With the onset of the first warm days, the feathered "informers" either return to their habitats, or take root forever in the vicinity of the settlement.

Reproduction

So, is the woodpecker a migratory bird or not? You found out the answer to this question, and then let's talk about how their breeding period goes. At the end of winter, representatives of this genus of birds gather in small flocks. Males make loud noises resembling crackling, thus inviting females to mate. When a pair has formed, they choose a tree and begin to equip a nesting site. In April-May, the female woodpecker lays 3 to 8 eggs. The couple incubates them alternately. Chicks appear on the 15th day. For another month, the babies remain in the hollow, where the male and female bring food. By the end of July, fledging chicks begin to learn to fly, but before that they independently emerge from the hollow and move along the tree, clinging tightly to the bark with their sharp claws. Woodpeckers-parents take care of their children until the end of summer, until they learn to fly confidently and get their own food on their own. After that, a period begins when all representatives of the feathered family fly away, and each of them begins to live separately. The next spring, the breeding cycle begins again.

When talking about whether the woodpecker is a migratory bird or not, how this representative of the bird world lives and what it feeds on, I would like to recall another name for it - the forest orderly. Why is it called that way? Because it destroys harmful insects - each of us will say. The answer is correct, but not entirely complete. The woodpecker hollows only diseased trees. You will not see it on young healthy plants. On a live one, he will hammer only in the place where it hurts. Thus, the bird eliminates the focus of the disease and protects the plant from further damage. Here he is, a little feathered forest orderly!

What are woodpeckers

Great Spotted Woodpecker. This bird is rather large, the wingspan sometimes reaches half a meter. Most common in European forests.
It looks like a small spotted woodpecker almost the size of a sparrow.
Another large species that is often found in our forests is the gall, or black woodpecker. This bird is quite noisy and active, gouges large hollows and eats many harmful insects.
The green woodpecker looks quite unusual and beautiful. But he is very careful, so it is difficult to see him.
The three-toed woodpecker is an unusual bird as it lacks one toe.
This family also includes the swivel neck, although it is very different from other woodpeckers in behavior and appearance. She does not make hollows and does not know how to climb trees.

Woodpecker bird description

Where do woodpeckers live?

Woodpecker lifestyle

What does a woodpecker eat

What kind of bird can stay for the winter in our climate? Only the one that is omnivorous. Yes, woodpeckers can eat a lot.

What is interesting about the woodpecker

This is the only bird that has an ear for music. Woodpeckers can knock on wood for more than just foraging or making a nest. Sometimes you can watch a bird hammer on a dry branch and listen.

The woodpecker's tongue is amazing. In some individuals, it can reach a length of 10 centimeters. It is sticky, with sharp notches, on which, like hooks, the woodpecker attaches insects from under the bark of a tree. With its help, he can also feast on the fruits.
The woodpecker is one of the few birds that cannot walk on the ground. Their legs and tail are adapted only for climbing trees.

So, we have presented a description of the bird. The woodpecker is very beautiful. A bright little red riding hood and variegated color make these birds an adornment of any forest.