Green-barred woodpecker facts for kids
The green-barred woodpecker (also called the green-barred flicker) is a type of woodpecker found in South America. You can spot these birds in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its scientific name is Colaptes melanochloros. This bird is known for its unique green and black markings.
Quick facts for kids Green-barred woodpecker |
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| A green-barred woodpecker in Bataguassu, Brazil | |
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Colaptes
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melanochloros
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| Where the green-barred woodpecker lives | |
Contents
About the Green-Barred Woodpecker
The green-barred woodpecker was first officially described in 1788 by a German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin. He gave it the scientific name Picus melanochloros. The name melanochloros comes from ancient Greek words: melas means "black," and khlōros means "green" or "yellow." This perfectly describes the bird's colors!
Over time, scientists learn more about birds and sometimes change how they are grouped. The green-barred woodpecker was once in a different group, but now it's part of the Colaptes group. This change happened after a study in 2011 looked closely at the birds' DNA.
Scientists recognize five different types, or subspecies, of the green-barred woodpecker:
- C. m. melanochloros
- C. m. nattereri
- C. m. melanolaimus
- C. m. nigroviridis
- C. m. leucofrenatus
Sometimes, the last three subspecies are called the "golden-breasted woodpecker" because they look a bit different. However, they can still have babies together where their homes meet, which shows they are closely related. This article considers them all part of the same green-barred woodpecker species.
What Does It Look Like?
The green-barred woodpecker is about 27 to 30 cm (11 to 12 inches) long. It weighs between 80 and 178 grams (2.8 to 6.3 ounces).
Males and females look mostly the same, except for their heads.
- Males have a black forehead and a red area on the back of their head and neck. They also have a red stripe on their cheek.
- Females only have red on the back of their head and neck. Their cheek stripe is black with white streaks.
Both male and female green-barred woodpeckers have yellowish-green backs with dark brown stripes. Their tail feathers are black, sometimes with pale stripes. Their bellies are usually pale green with black spots, especially on the chest and sides. They have a black beak, brown eyes, and gray legs.
The different subspecies have slight differences in color and size. For example, C. m. nattereri is smaller and more yellow. C. m. leucofrenatus is the largest and has more brown or golden colors on its back and a golden or orange chest.
Sounds and Calls
Green-barred woodpeckers make a call that sounds like "kwiek-kwik-kwik." They also make other sounds, like "peah, krrew, and peek." Sometimes they make a "screechy wheéo, pikwarrr, or ker wick." Both male and female woodpeckers also drum on trees, but they don't do it very often.
Where Do They Live?
Green-barred woodpeckers live in many different places. They can be found in dry desert areas or humid forests.
- The C. m. melanochloros subspecies lives in southern and southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.
- C. m. nattereri is found in northeastern and south-central Brazil, and eastern Bolivia.
- C. m. melanolaimus lives in central and southern Bolivia.
- C. m. nigroviridis is in southern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern and eastern Argentina, and western Uruguay.
- C. m. leucofrenatus lives in northwestern and west-central Argentina.
These birds usually live in lowlands, but some can be found up to 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) high in Bolivia. Most green-barred woodpeckers stay in the same area all year. However, those living in the southernmost parts of their range might fly north during the colder months after breeding.
Behavior
Feeding Habits
The green-barred woodpecker's favorite food is ants, including their young (larvae and pupae). They also eat other insects like termites. Sometimes, they snack on cactus fruits and different kinds of berries. These woodpeckers are important for spreading seeds of certain plants, like Rapanea lancifolia.
They usually look for food alone or in pairs. Sometimes, they might join groups of other woodpeckers, like the campo flicker. The "golden-breasted" subspecies tend to look for food more on the ground. However, all green-barred woodpeckers also search for food in the lower and middle parts of trees.
Reproduction
Green-barred woodpeckers usually breed from August to January in the southern parts of their home. They make their nests by digging a hole in a dead tree or stump. They might also use a palm tree, a large cactus, or even a utility pole! Their nests are typically about 2 to 6 meters (6 to 20 feet) off the ground.
A female woodpecker usually lays four eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. They also both help feed the baby birds once they hatch. Scientists are still learning more about how long the eggs take to hatch and when the young birds leave the nest.
Conservation Status
The green-barred woodpecker is considered a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN. This means that its population is stable, and there are no immediate threats to its survival. The bird lives in a very large area and can be found in many protected places. It is quite common in most of the places where it lives.
