(GSearch amended, gives a better result) |
(Some more deleted text replaced. Picture of a southerly subspecies. Diet expanded. References updated) |
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− | [[Image:Lesser_Spotted_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Lesser_Spotted_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Male<br />Photo © by {{user|Rudi+Petitjean|Rudi Petitjean}}<br />[[Belgium]]]] |
;[[:Category:Dendrocopos|Dendrocopos]] minor | ;[[:Category:Dendrocopos|Dendrocopos]] minor | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | 14-16.5 cm<br /> | + | 14-16.5 cm (5½-6½ in)<br /> |
− | Black and white barring on upperparts | + | *Black and white barring on upperparts |
+ | *White, or buffish underparts | ||
+ | *Black cheek stripe does not reach crown | ||
+ | *Face is white or buff.<br /> | ||
'''Male''' has a red crown; '''female''' black. | '''Male''' has a red crown; '''female''' black. | ||
+ | ====Variations==== | ||
+ | [[Image:LSW25026Den minor.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo © by {{user|Pavel|Pavel}}<br />[[Durankulak Lake|Durankulak]], Northern [[Bulgaria|Bulgarian]] Black Sea coast]] | ||
+ | About eleven races are recognised differing slightly in size and colour. Generally, birds with longer bills and wings and whiter plumage occur in the north and smaller birds with buffier underparts are found in the south but much intergradation occurs and there are few distinct boundaries between races. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
Lesser Spotted is very much smaller than [[Great Spotted Woodpecker|Great]] or [[Middle Spotted Woodpecker]] and has no red on the body. | Lesser Spotted is very much smaller than [[Great Spotted Woodpecker|Great]] or [[Middle Spotted Woodpecker]] and has no red on the body. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
+ | [[Image:Pic peichette jijel 2 .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies ''ledouci''<br />Photo © by {{user|Karim+Haddad|Karim Haddad}}<br />Djijel, [[Algeria]], December 2017]] | ||
A widespread '''breeding''' bird from southern [[Britain]], [[France]] and northern [[Spain]] east across [[Eurasia]] to the northern [[China]], Sakhalin and northern [[Japan]]. To the north breeds over most of Fenno-Scandia and across [[Russia]] except the extreme north. Range extends south to the Pyrenees, southern [[Italy]] and [[Greece]] and also breeds in western and northern [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus. More isolated populations breed in scattered parts of central and southern [[Iberia]], the [[Azores]] and northern [[Algeria]]. May breed on [[Sardinia]] but status unclear, former breeder on [[Sicily]]. | A widespread '''breeding''' bird from southern [[Britain]], [[France]] and northern [[Spain]] east across [[Eurasia]] to the northern [[China]], Sakhalin and northern [[Japan]]. To the north breeds over most of Fenno-Scandia and across [[Russia]] except the extreme north. Range extends south to the Pyrenees, southern [[Italy]] and [[Greece]] and also breeds in western and northern [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus. More isolated populations breed in scattered parts of central and southern [[Iberia]], the [[Azores]] and northern [[Algeria]]. May breed on [[Sardinia]] but status unclear, former breeder on [[Sicily]]. | ||
− | + | ||
'''Resident''' but may be nomadic and sometimes eruptive in the north and east. Breeding range has contracted in some areas and especially scarce in Iberia and North [[Africa]]. | '''Resident''' but may be nomadic and sometimes eruptive in the north and east. Breeding range has contracted in some areas and especially scarce in Iberia and North [[Africa]]. | ||
'''Vagrants''' recorded on the [[Balearic Islands]] and [[Corsica]]. | '''Vagrants''' recorded on the [[Balearic Islands]] and [[Corsica]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
− | |||
Placed in genus ''[[:Category:Dryobates|Dryobates]]'' by Gill and Donsker. | Placed in genus ''[[:Category:Dryobates|Dryobates]]'' by Gill and Donsker. | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Line 22: | Line 28: | ||
*''D. m. buturlini'': [[Iberia]], southern [[France]] and [[Italy]] to [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]] and northern [[Greece]] | *''D. m. buturlini'': [[Iberia]], southern [[France]] and [[Italy]] to [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]] and northern [[Greece]] | ||
*''D. m. minor'': Northern [[Europe]] ([[Scandinavia]] to Ural Mountains) | *''D. m. minor'': Northern [[Europe]] ([[Scandinavia]] to Ural Mountains) | ||
− | *''D. m. amurensis'': Lower Amur River and | + | *''D. m. amurensis'': Lower Amur River and Sakhalin to north-eastern [[Korea]] and northern [[Japan]] |
*''D. m. kamtschatkensis'': Ural Mountains to Anadyr River and Kamchatka | *''D. m. kamtschatkensis'': Ural Mountains to Anadyr River and Kamchatka | ||
*''D. m. colchicus'': [[Caucasus]] and Transcaucasia | *''D. m. colchicus'': [[Caucasus]] and Transcaucasia | ||
Line 32: | Line 38: | ||
Woodland and forest containing dead and dying trees but favours deciduous trees and orchards, sometimes parks and large gardens, and tends to avoid conifers. | Woodland and forest containing dead and dying trees but favours deciduous trees and orchards, sometimes parks and large gardens, and tends to avoid conifers. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
+ | Feeds high in branches rather than on the trunk of the tree and can be very difficult to locate. The best time to look for this species is in early spring when the birds are calling and there are few leaves on the trees. | ||
====Movement==== | ====Movement==== | ||
Flight is undulating. Climbs trees. | Flight is undulating. Climbs trees. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
− | They mainly eat insects gleaned from the bark of trees. Will visit feeders for peanuts. | + | They mainly eat insects gleaned from the bark of trees; in the summer mostly caterpillars, aphids and beetles. Will visit feeders for peanuts. |
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Dendrocopos minor (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Dendrocopos minor (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
Line 48: | Line 55: | ||
''[[Media:Dendrocopos major (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''<!--EDITORS: this file has been removed from the Great Spotted article as uploaded there in error--> | ''[[Media:Dendrocopos major (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''<!--EDITORS: this file has been removed from the Great Spotted article as uploaded there in error--> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2018) |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== |
Revision as of 22:13, 8 June 2018
- Dendrocopos minor
Identification
14-16.5 cm (5½-6½ in)
- Black and white barring on upperparts
- White, or buffish underparts
- Black cheek stripe does not reach crown
- Face is white or buff.
Male has a red crown; female black.
Variations
About eleven races are recognised differing slightly in size and colour. Generally, birds with longer bills and wings and whiter plumage occur in the north and smaller birds with buffier underparts are found in the south but much intergradation occurs and there are few distinct boundaries between races.
Similar Species
Lesser Spotted is very much smaller than Great or Middle Spotted Woodpecker and has no red on the body.
Distribution
A widespread breeding bird from southern Britain, France and northern Spain east across Eurasia to the northern China, Sakhalin and northern Japan. To the north breeds over most of Fenno-Scandia and across Russia except the extreme north. Range extends south to the Pyrenees, southern Italy and Greece and also breeds in western and northern Turkey and the Caucasus. More isolated populations breed in scattered parts of central and southern Iberia, the Azores and northern Algeria. May breed on Sardinia but status unclear, former breeder on Sicily.
Resident but may be nomadic and sometimes eruptive in the north and east. Breeding range has contracted in some areas and especially scarce in Iberia and North Africa.
Vagrants recorded on the Balearic Islands and Corsica.
Taxonomy
Placed in genus Dryobates by Gill and Donsker.
Subspecies
There are 11 subspecies[1]:
- D. m. comminutus: England and Wales
- D. m. hortorum: France to Poland, Switzerland, Hungary and northern Romania
- D. m. buturlini: Iberia, southern France and Italy to Romania, Bulgaria and northern Greece
- D. m. minor: Northern Europe (Scandinavia to Ural Mountains)
- D. m. amurensis: Lower Amur River and Sakhalin to north-eastern Korea and northern Japan
- D. m. kamtschatkensis: Ural Mountains to Anadyr River and Kamchatka
- D. m. colchicus: Caucasus and Transcaucasia
- D. m. danfordi: Greece and Turkey
- D. m. quadrifasciatus: South-eastern Transcaucasia (Lenkoran region)
- D. m. morgani: Zagros Mountains and north-western Iran
- D. m. ledouci: North-western Africa (north-eastern Algeria and north-western Tunisia)
Habitat
Woodland and forest containing dead and dying trees but favours deciduous trees and orchards, sometimes parks and large gardens, and tends to avoid conifers.
Behaviour
Feeds high in branches rather than on the trunk of the tree and can be very difficult to locate. The best time to look for this species is in early spring when the birds are calling and there are few leaves on the trees.
Movement
Flight is undulating. Climbs trees.
Diet
They mainly eat insects gleaned from the bark of trees; in the summer mostly caterpillars, aphids and beetles. Will visit feeders for peanuts.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Dendrocopos minor (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
<flashmp3>Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by Keith Dickinson
Adel Dam NR, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK, April 2015
<flashmp3>Dendrocopos major (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Spotted_Woodpecker
External Links