Ground Woodpecker

Ground Woodpecker

Taxobox
name = Ground Woodpecker


status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Piciformes
familia = Picidae
genus = "Geocolaptes"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1832
species = "G. olivaceus"
binomial = "Geocolaptes olivaceus"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1788)
synonyms =

The Ground Woodpecker, "Geocolaptes olivaceus", is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world. It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa. It is the largest woodpecker in the region, reaching 30cm in length. It usually goes about in pairs or small parties and is best located by its loud, raucous 2-note call ("chik-ree", "chik-ree") with head-swinging. It often peers over or around rocks at intruders. It breeds in spring and early summer (August to November), and the nest is in a tunnel excavated by the bird itself in the vertical bank of a stream or watercourse.

It is to be found in a broad swath running from south-west to north-east, from the Cape Peninsula and Namaqualand to the Transvaal. Its diet consists mainly of ants with their larvae, pupae and eggs. These are extracted from dead wood or between rocks, using its long, sticky tongue. Usually 3 glossy white eggs are laid in a chamber at the end of the tunnel.

References

*Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th edition (John Voelcker Fund, 1993) ISBN 0 620 17583 4

External links

* [http://www.nashvillezoo.org/piciformes/picidae.htm Picidae - Nashville Zoo]
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?freetext=Ground+Woodpecker&modifier=phrase&criteria=common&taxa_species=1&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0&redlistCategory%5B%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B%5D=all&country%5B%5D=all&aquatic%5B%5D=all&regions%5B%5D=all&habitats%5B%5D=all&threats%5B%5D=all ICUN red list]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ground woodpecker — ground woodpecker, a woodpecker of South Africa, about ten inches long, having olive brown feathers. It hunts insects on the ground or along riverbanks where it tunnels out its nests …   Useful english dictionary

  • ground woodpecker — dirviniai geniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Geocolaptes angl. ground woodpecker vok. Erdspecht, m rus. земляной дятел, m pranc. pic laboureur, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – kampeteros siauresnis terminas – dirvinis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • ground woodpecker — dirvinis genys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Geocolaptes olivaceus angl. ground woodpecker vok. Erdspecht, m rus. земляной дятел, m pranc. pic laboureur, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – dirviniai geniai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Woodpecker — Taxobox name = Woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks image caption = Hispaniolan Woodpecker regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves subclassis = Neornithes infraclassis = Neognathae superordo = Neoaves ordo = Piciformes subordo = Pici… …   Wikipedia

  • Woodpecker — Wood peck er, n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of scansorial birds belonging to {Picus} and many allied genera of the family {Picid[ae]}. [1913 Webster] Note: These birds have the tail feathers pointed and rigid at the tip to aid in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Woodpecker hornbill — Woodpecker Wood peck er, n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of scansorial birds belonging to {Picus} and many allied genera of the family {Picid[ae]}. [1913 Webster] Note: These birds have the tail feathers pointed and rigid at the tip to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • woodpecker — /wood pek euhr/, n. any of numerous climbing birds of the family Picidae, having a hard, chisellike bill that it hammers repeatedly into wood in search of insects, stiff tail feathers to assist in climbing, and usually more or less boldly… …   Universalium

  • ground hog — Woodchuck Wood chuck , n. 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A common large North American marmot ({Arctomys monax}). It is usually reddish brown, more or less grizzled with gray. It makes extensive burrows, and is often injurious to growing crops. Called also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Red-headed Woodpecker — Not to be confused with Red bellied Woodpecker. Red headed Woodpecker Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Ivory-billed Woodpecker — Taxobox name = Ivory billed Woodpecker status = CR status system = IUCN3.1 trend = down status ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2005|id=3712|title=Campephilus principalis|downloaded=9 May 2006 Database entry includes… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”