Black Woodpecker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iBlack Woodpecker
Adult male with young.
Adult male with young.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryocopus
Species: D. martius
Binomial name
Dryocopus martius
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, is a large woodpecker, 40-46 cm long with a 67-73 cm wingspan.

It lives in mature forest across the northern palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding in Europe. It does not migrate.

The plumage of this crow-sized woodpecker is entirely black apart from a red crown. In males, the entire crown is red, but in females only the hindcrown. The sexes differ even as nestlings.

The Black Woodpecker's flight is straight, not dipping like other woodpeckers.

The nest is a tree-hole into which four or more eggs are laid.

 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Dryocopus martius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../b/l/a/Black_Woodpecker_1bea.html"