Striped woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Striped woodpecker |
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| at Tomé, Bío Bío, Chile | |
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| Genus: |
Veniliornis
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| Species: |
lignarius
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The striped woodpecker (Veniliornis lignarius) is a cool type of bird that belongs to the woodpecker family. You can find these birds in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. They are known for their interesting striped look!
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About the Striped Woodpecker
The striped woodpecker was first described a long time ago, in 1782. Its scientific name is Veniliornis lignarius. Scientists study birds like this to understand how they are related to other birds. This helps us learn more about the animal kingdom.
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What Does It Look Like?
The striped woodpecker is a small bird, about 15 to 16 centimeters (6 inches) long. It weighs around 35 to 39 grams (1.2 to 1.4 ounces).
Males and females look very similar, but there are a few differences on their heads.
- Both have a black forehead and the top of their head.
- They have a white face with a black stripe that goes from their eye downwards.
- Males have some red or orange-red on the back of their neck.
- Females have black on the back of their neck where the male has red.
The upper part of their body is brownish-black. Some birds in the north have white wavy patterns, while those in the south have thin white bars. Their wings have black and white stripes. Their tail is dark brownish-black with thin white bars.
Their belly and chest are white with a bit of yellow. They have black stripes on their chest and belly, and black bars on their sides.
Young woodpeckers look a bit duller and browner than adults. They have irregular bars on their upper parts and heavy stripes on their underparts. Young males have a red top of the head, and young females have a small red patch there.
Where Do They Live?
The striped woodpecker lives in two separate areas.
- One group lives in west-central and southern Bolivia, and the very northern part of Argentina.
- The other group lives in central and southern Chile, and southwestern Argentina.
These woodpeckers like many different kinds of places. They often live in forests that are partly open or fully open. This includes wet forests with Nothofagus or Podocarpus trees, and drier areas with cacti and scattered trees.
You can also find them in pastures with a few trees, fruit orchards, plantations, and even gardens. In Bolivia, they can live high up in the mountains, between 1600 and 4000 meters (5,200 to 13,000 feet) above sea level. In Chile, they live up to 1800 meters (5,900 feet), and in Argentina, up to 2700 meters (8,900 feet).
How Do They Behave?
Movement
Striped woodpeckers usually stay in the same area all year round. They might move to different elevations between winter and summer, but they don't migrate long distances.
What Do They Eat?
This woodpecker usually looks for food by itself. Sometimes, it might join a group of different bird species that are also looking for food.
They mainly eat adult insects and their larvae (young insects). They find their food by picking it off surfaces or poking into cracks. They also peck and hammer wood to get insects hidden deeper inside.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Striped woodpeckers are thought to nest between June and September in Bolivia. In Chile and Argentina, they nest between October and January.
They dig a hole in a tree or a cactus to make their nest. These nests are usually between 2 and 12 meters (7 to 39 feet) above the ground. A female woodpecker lays about three to five eggs. Scientists don't know exactly how long the eggs take to hatch or when the young birds leave the nest. Both the male and female parents help feed the baby birds.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The striped woodpecker makes a loud "peek" sound. It also has a "trill" call that it uses to communicate over long distances.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the striped woodpecker as a species of "Least Concern." This means that it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
It lives in a large area, and even though we don't know the exact number of these birds, their population seems to be stable. There are no immediate threats that scientists have found. These woodpeckers live in several national parks in Chile and Argentina, which helps protect them.
