Southern sooty woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern sooty woodpecker |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Picidae |
| Genus: | Mulleripicus |
| Species: |
M. fuliginosus
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| Binomial name | |
| Mulleripicus fuliginosus Tweeddale, 1877
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The southern sooty woodpecker (Mulleripicus fuliginosus) is a bird that belongs to the woodpecker family, Picidae. This bird is only found in the Philippines. It lives in lowland evergreen forests up to about 500 meters (1,640 feet) high. You can find it on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, and Samar. Sadly, its home is disappearing, which puts it at risk.
The southern sooty woodpecker and the northern sooty woodpecker used to be considered the same species. They were both called the "sooty woodpecker." But in 2021, the IOC decided they were different species.
Contents
What Does the Southern Sooty Woodpecker Look Like?
This is a large woodpecker that lives in the lowland forests of the southern Philippines. It is mostly a dark, sooty-gray color. It has a fairly long, pointy tail, and tiny speckles on its head. Its eyes are pale, and its bill (beak) is an ivory color.
Boy woodpeckers have a red mark that goes from the base of their bill to their cheek. This bird lives in the same areas as other woodpeckers, like the Buff-spotted Flameback and the White-bellied Woodpecker. But you can tell the southern sooty woodpecker apart because its belly is plain gray. Its calls include high-pitched chirps and squeals.
The breeding season for these birds, when they lay eggs and raise their young, is from April to August in Samar and Leyte.
Where Does the Southern Sooty Woodpecker Live?
This woodpecker's natural home is in warm, wet lowland primary forests. These are forests that have not been disturbed much by humans. It lives in areas up to 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) above sea level. These birds do not seem to do well in forests that have been damaged or are regrowing after being cut down.
Why is the Southern Sooty Woodpecker in Danger?
The IUCN Red List has listed this bird as vulnerable. This means its population is believed to be shrinking. The biggest threat to the southern sooty woodpecker is the loss of its home. This happens because of:
- Logging: Both legal and illegal cutting down of trees.
- Farming: Forests are turned into farms, sometimes by using Slash-and-burn methods.
- Charcoal burning: Trees are cut down to make charcoal.
- Mining: Activities that dig up the ground for minerals.
Since this woodpecker prefers low-lying forests, it has likely lost many of its numbers as these forests disappear in the Philippines.
What is Being Done to Help?
Right now, there are no special conservation plans just for the southern sooty woodpecker. It does live in a few protected places, like Pasonanca Natural Park and Samar Island Natural Park. However, in many areas of the Philippines, protecting animals from hunting and illegal logging can be difficult.
Scientists have suggested some actions to help this bird:
- Do surveys to find out how many woodpeckers are left and where their main populations are.
- Keep an eye on the health of their forest homes.
- Increase the amount of primary forest that is truly protected.
- Work on restoring their habitat by planting native trees for a long time.
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
