European green woodpecker
The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), or European green woodpecker, is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It occurs in most of Europe and in western Asia. There are four subspecies. All have green upperparts, paler yellowish underparts, and a red crown.
| European green woodpecker | |
|---|---|
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| European green woodpecker (male) | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Picidae |
| Genus: | Picus |
| Species: | P. viridis
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| Binomial name | |
| Picus viridis | |
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| Range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Gecinus viridis[2] | |
The woodpecker spends much of its time feeding on ants on the ground and does not often 'drum' on trees like other woodpecker species. It is a shy bird but usually draws attention with its loud calls. A nest hole is excavated in a tree; four to six eggs are laid which hatch after 19–20 days.
It gives a loud call known as yaffling.
Old deciduous trees for nesting, and nearby feeding grounds with plenty of ants, is essential. This is usually found in semi-open landscapes with small woodlands, hedges, scattered old trees, edges of forests and floodplain forests. Suitable habitats for foraging include grassland, heaths, plantations, orchards and lawns.[3]
European Green Woodpecker Media
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2013). "Picus viridis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ John Gould describes the green woodpecker, Gecinus viridis in The Birds of Great Britain (vol. 3, 1873, plate 74).
- ↑ Alder D. & Marsden S. 2010. Characteristics of feeding‐site selection by breeding green woodpeckers Picus viridis in a UK agricultural landscape. Bird study, 57(1), 100-107.
