Grey-crowned woodpecker

Last updated

Grey-crowned woodpecker
Colaptes auricularis 2945161.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Colaptes
Species:
C. auricularis
Binomial name
Colaptes auricularis
(Salvin & Godman, 1889)
Colaptes auricularis map.svg
Synonyms

Piculus auricularis (Salvin & Godman, 1889)

The grey-crowned woodpecker (Colaptes auricularis) is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to western Mexico. [2]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The grey-crowned woodpecker was originally described as Chloronerpes auricularis. [3] It was later placed in genus Piculus but since about 2007 has been moved into Colaptes by taxonomic systems. [4] [5] [2] [6] [7] [8]

The grey-crowned woodpecker is similar to the wide-ranging golden-olive woodpecker (C. rubiginosus) and has been treated as a subspecies of it. Some authors have treated the two as a superspecies. In addition, research since 2010 has found that the golden-olive woodpecker is not monophyletic, with some subspecies being more closely related to the grey-crowned woodpecker than they are to other golden-olive subspecies. [9] [10] [11] [12]

The specific epithet auricularis means "eared", an appearance created by the confluent, fine patterning of the species' head.[ citation needed ]

The grey-crowned woodpecker is monotypic. [2]

Description

The grey-crowned woodpecker is 19.5 to 21 cm (7.7 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 65 g (2.3 oz). Males and females have the same plumage except on their heads. Adult males have a light gray crown and nape. They are pale brownish buff on their lores and sides of the head, sometimes with indistinct grayish bars. They have a wide red stripe below the brownish buff and a dull white chin and upper throat; the last has dull grayish bars. Adult females have no red on their head. Both sexes have mostly pale olive to olive green upperparts; their rump and uppertail coverts are barred with pale yellow or yellowish white. Their wings are a brighter olive green than the back. Their tail is pale yellowish olive green with dusky tips on the central feathers and sometimes darker bars or spots on the outer ones. Their underparts are yellowish white or pale yellowish with irregular olive bars. Their bill is dark gray, their iris brown, and the legs gray. Juveniles resemble adult females with less distinct barring on the underparts; the male's red facial stripe is mixed with gray. [12]

Distribution and habitat

The grey-crowned woodpecker is found in western Mexico from southern Sonora and Chihuahua to southern Oaxaca. It inhabits the interior and edges of semi-humid and humid forest, and is also found locally in pine-oak forest. In elevation it ranges from near sea level to 2,400 m (7,900 ft). [12]

Behavior

Movement

The grey-crowned woodpecker is a year-round resident throughout its range. [1]

Feeding

The grey-crowned woodpecker forages at all levels from the ground to the forest canopy. Its diet is not known in detail but does include termites, other invertebrates, and berries. [12]

Breeding

The grey-crowned woodpecker's breeding season has not been fully determined but includes at least March and April. Nothing else is known about its breeding biology. [12]

Vocal and non-vocal sounds

What is thought to be the grey-crowned woodpecker's song is "a rapid, shrill, churring rattle". It also makes "a sharp, slightly explosive kea'ah [and] a gruff mewing growh". [13] Its drum is "short and rapid". [12]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the grey-crowned woodpecker as being of Least Concern. It has a large range and an estimated population of at least 20,000 mature individuals; however, the latter is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] "Gray-crowned Woodpecker faces heightened risk because of its specialization on threatened tropical highland forest habitats. The primary threat to this species is loss of this habitat type due to conversion to agriculture, wood harvesting, and livestock grazing." [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-fronted woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The golden-fronted woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in the southern United States, Mexico and parts of Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-olive woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The golden-olive woodpecker is a species of bird in the subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found from Mexico south and east through Panama, in every mainland South American country except Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Pacific parakeet, known as Pacific conure or Nicaraguan green conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ochre-throated foliage-gleaner</span> Species of bird

The ochre-throated foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Panama and every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-necked woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The black-necked woodpecker or black-necked flicker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green-barred woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The green-barred woodpecker or green-barred flicker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andean flicker</span> Species of woodpecker

The Andean flicker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-green woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The golden-green woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Panama and every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson-mantled woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The crimson-mantled woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-stained woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The red-stained woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet-backed woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The scarlet-backed woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chocó woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The Choco woodpecker is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-vented woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The yellow-vented woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dot-fronted woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The dot-fronted woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoky-brown woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The smoky-brown woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-eared woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The yellow-eared woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar-bellied woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The bar-bellied woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-spotted woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The white-spotted woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze-winged woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The bronze-winged woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to northeastern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velasquez's woodpecker</span> Species of bird

Velasquez's woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found from Mexico to Nicaragua.

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2020). "Grey-crowned Woodpecker Colaptes auricularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T22681250A141037692. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22681250A141037692.en . Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "Woodpeckers". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. Salvin, Osbert; Godman, F. DuCane (1889). "Chloronerpes auricularis sp. n." The Ibis (in Latin and English). I (III): 381. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  4. Benz, Brett W.; Robbins, Mark B.; Peterson, A. Townsend (2006). "Evolutionary history of woodpeckers and allies (Aves: Picidae): Placing key taxa on the phylogenetic tree". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 40 (2): 389–399. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.021. PMID   16635580.
  5. Richard C. Banks, R. Terry Chesser, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, and Kevin Winker. "Forty-ninth supplement to the American Ornithological Society's Check-list of North American Birds". The Auk 2008, vol. 125:758-768 retrieved January 27, 2023
  6. HBW and BirdLife International (2022) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip retrieved December 13, 2022
  7. Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.aou.org/taxa Archived 2020-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved November 10, 2022
  9. Moore, W.S.; Overton, L.C.; Miglia, K.J. (2011). "Mitochondrial DNA based phylogeny of the woodpecker genera Colaptes and Piculus, and implications for the history of woodpecker diversification in South America". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58: 76–84.
  10. Dufort, M.J. (2015). "An augmented supermatrix phylogeny of the avian family Picidae reveals uncertainty deep in the family tree". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 94: 313–326.
  11. del Hoyo, J., H. Winkler, D. A. Christie, and N. Collar (2022). Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (N. D. Sly, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.goowoo1.01.1 retrieved January 27, 2023
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thompson, C. and C. J. Beardmore (2020). Gray-crowned Woodpecker (Colaptes auricularis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grcwoo1.01 retrieved January 28, 2023
  13. Howell, S.N.G.; Webb, S. (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. New York: Oxford University Press.