White-headed woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-headed woodpecker |
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| Male white-headed woodpecker | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leuconotopicus
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| Species: |
albolarvatus
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| Subspecies | |
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| White-headed woodpecker range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Picoides albolarvatus |
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The white-headed woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) is a special kind of woodpecker. It lives in the pine forests of the mountains in western North America. This bird does not move to warmer places in winter; it stays in the same area all year round.
This woodpecker has a black body and a bright white head. It is about 20 cm (8 inches) long. When it flies, you can see white feathers on its wings that look like a crescent moon. Male white-headed woodpeckers have a small red spot on the back of their heads.
Where They Live
The white-headed woodpecker lives in the mountains from British Columbia in Canada, all the way down through California in the United States. They prefer to live in pine forests.
Life Cycle
White-headed woodpeckers make their nests in dead trees or tall, broken tree trunks called snags. They usually have baby birds once a year.
Different Kinds of White-Headed Woodpeckers
Most white-headed woodpeckers belong to the main group, called L. a. albolarvatus. But in the southern part of their home range, there is another group called L. a. gravirostris.
This southern group has a longer beak, especially the males. They also have a longer tail. You can only find these birds on the mountaintops from the San Gabriel Mountains to San Diego County.
Scientists have studied the DNA of these birds. Their studies show that the birds on Mount Pinos are a mix between the two groups. The longer beak of the southern woodpeckers helps them eat seeds from large, spiny Coulter pine cones. This is a special way they have adapted to their environment.
See also
In Spanish: Pico cabeciblanco para niños
