Woodpeckers of the World: April 2023

Sunday, 23 April 2023

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

This Middle Spotted Woodpecker (D. medius) decided to nest in a wooden support post rather than in one of the many trees nearby.

Tuesday, 18 April 2023

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

It is HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY! Today THE GREEN WOODPECKER is officially out! https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/the-green-woodpecker

Wednesday, 5 April 2023

THE GREEN WOODPECKER - out on 18th April.

THE GREEN WOODPECKER (Pelagic Publishing, UK) will be published on April 18th (2023).

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.