Orinoco piculet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orinoco piculet |
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| Conservation status | |
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Picumnus
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| Species: |
pumilus
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The Orinoco piculet (Picumnus pumilus) is a tiny bird that belongs to the woodpecker family. It's found in parts of Brazil, Colombia, and possibly Venezuela. This small bird is known for its unique look and how it lives in the forest.
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About the Orinoco Piculet
Scientists group animals to understand them better. The Orinoco piculet is a type of woodpecker. For a while, some thought it was a subspecies of another bird, Lafresnaye's piculet. Now, scientists believe they are very closely related. The Orinoco piculet is also considered "monotypic." This means it's the only species in its specific group.
What Does It Look Like?
The Orinoco piculet is quite small. It's about 9 cm (3.5 in) long. That's about the size of your finger! It weighs around 9 to 10 g (0.32 to 0.35 oz), which is very light.
- Males: Adult males have a dark brown cap on their head. They have yellow spots on their forehead. The rest of their cap has whiter spots. Their face looks blackish with white spots. They also have bare, gray-blue skin around their eyes. A pale stripe runs behind each eye.
- Body Colors: Their upper body is brownish green. Their wing feathers are brown with greenish edges. Their tail is black on top. The inner tail feathers have white parts. The outer three pairs have a white patch near the tip.
- Underparts: Their chin, throat, and belly are pale yellowish to buffy white. They have dark brown bars across these areas. The very center of their belly is plain.
- Beak and Legs: Their beak is blackish. Their legs are gray.
- Females: Adult females look almost the same as males. The only difference is that their entire crown has whitish spots.
- Young Birds: Young piculets are similar to adults. However, their colors are not as bright. They are greener on top and have less clear bars on their belly.
Where Does It Live?
The Orinoco piculet lives in specific parts of South America. You can find it in eastern Colombia. It also lives in northwestern Brazil. Some reports say it might be in southern Venezuela's Amazonas state. However, some bird experts don't have records of it there.
This bird likes to live in humid forests. It prefers the edges of mature forests. It also lives in the edges of "gallery forests." These are forests that grow along rivers. You might also find it in dense, bushy areas. It usually lives at elevations up to 300 m (980 ft). Sometimes, it can be found as high as 500 m (1,600 ft).
Behavior and Life Cycle
Movement
The Orinoco piculet is a "resident" bird. This means it stays in the same area all year long. It does not migrate to other places.
Feeding Habits
This piculet looks for food from the lower parts of the forest. It can also search all the way up to the treetops. Scientists believe it mainly eats ants. It also likely eats other small insects.
Reproduction
Not much is known about how the Orinoco piculet reproduces. Experts think its breeding season includes November and December. More research is needed to learn about its nesting and raising young.
Vocalizations
The sounds the Orinoco piculet makes have not been written down. We don't have descriptions of its calls or songs yet.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has assessed the Orinoco piculet. They consider it a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of extinction.
However, its living area is small. The total number of these birds is not known. Experts believe its population might be getting smaller. No immediate threats have been found. It is a bird that is "poorly known." It is also probably not very common.
See also
In Spanish: Carpinterito del Orinoco para niños
