Woodpeckers of the World: Genus: Geocolaptes

Sunday 4 September 2011

Genus: Geocolaptes

The genus Geocolaptes includes just one species Geocolaptes olivaceus Ground Woodpecker. There are two races olivaceus and prometheus. It is endemic to South Africa and lives in open rocky uplands, often devoid of trees. It is also a social species living in family groups. Photo taken at Rooiels, South Africa by Warwick Tarboton.

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Background

Woodpeckers, the Picidae, are Piciformes, an order that includes some of the oldest avian lineages. The Piciformes probably originated about 60 million years ago in the Tertiary period and became distinct from their closest relatives some 50 million years ago. Depending upon which taxonomy is followed, and the fact that the status of some species is unclear, around 240-260 woodpecker species probably exist globally. The Picidae includes three subfamilies: Jynginae (wrynecks), Picumninae (piculets) and the Picinae, the “true woodpeckers”. In terms of size, behaviour, distribution and the habitats they use, the Picinae are a fairly diverse group of birds with six distinct tribes. They are widespread and found from sea-level to high-altitudes but absent from the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and some other islands. Worldwide woodpeckers are usually, but not exclusively, associated with trees.