Missouri Woodpeckers 2017

2017·1.2 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
Woodpeckers
by Amy Salveter
Seven species of
woodpeckers eat
insect pests and keep
RT
HE
RAT our forests healthy.
M
JI
A
lmost every place on earth where there are trees— on the trunks and limbs of trees by
sight, or by probing in crevices, scal- “… there are a whole
except Australia—there are woodpeckers. Remarkably, there are
genus of birds, called
ing of bits of bark or hammering
about 215 species of woodpeckers worldwide. Depending on the time Pici mareii, or wood-
deep into the wood.
peckers, that in like
of year, Missouri is home to seven species of woodpeckers. The hairy, Nuts and fruits also comprise an
manner have a tongue
important part of their diet. Most
downy, pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers reside here throughout
which they can shoot
woodpeckers excavate nest cavities
the year. Northern fickers may migrate southward in the winter, and red-headed forth to very great
and forage for wood-boring insects
length, ending in a
woodpeckers will if there aren’t enough acorns to eat. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers in trees that are already dead, dying
sharp stif bony rib,
don’t breed in Missouri, but they stay here during the winter months. or diseased. Some species, like the
dented on each side,
northern ficker, may feed on the
and at pleasure thrust
Te bright colors and patterns of ground. Others, like the red-headed woodpecker, will catch
it deep into holes, clifts
woodpeckers’ feathers are distinctive. insects in fight to feed their growing chicks.
and crannies of trees,
Contrasting brown, black and white All seven of our woodpeckers nest and roost in holes or
to stab and draw out
colors mixed with barring and spotting cavities in trees that they usually excavate themselves.
cossi, or any other
patterns are typical. Because it takes Tese cavities, pecked in dead or rotting wood, don’t hurt
insects lurking there …"
some experience to recognize their the trees and provide important nesting sites for many
—John Ray (1627-
individual calls, learning to identify other cavity users, including chickadees, tufted titmice,
1705: author of the
plumage colors and patterns relative bluebirds, tree swallows, screech owls and fying squirrels.
frst formal classifca-
JIM to body size is the best way to tell one Sometimes woodpeckers use existing cavities or nest
RATH species from another. boxes, but they generally prefer natural nest sites. Because tion of birds,
ERT Woodpeckers on the wing, such as the nest cavity provides a place to raise their young, wood- Ornithologiae,
published in 1676).
the pileated, red-headed and northern ficker, reveal peckers don’t need to carry in nest material like twigs or
patches on the wings, tail or rump that can help you iden- leaves. Instead, they line the bottom of the nest cavity with a
tify them. Males often show more red on the head than few wood chips for the eggs to rest on.
females, but for some species, like the red-headed wood- All of our woodpeckers lay pure white eggs. Tey don’t
pecker, it is impossible to distinguish between the sexes. need any camoufaging patterns or colors—the nest cavity
Woodpeckers are uniquely adapted for a life of climbing hides the eggs. When it’s time to incubate eggs the female
and pecking—or drumming, as it is called—on trees. Teir takes most of the day shift, and the male takes the night
specialized zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward shift. Both parents share the responsibility of bringing food
and two back, help them get a frm grip on vertical surfaces. to young in the nest.
Tey use stif tail feathers to brace themselves as they scoot
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up and down trees. oodpeckers communicate by means of displays,
When woodpeckers drum, they’re doing more than just drumming and vocal calls. Male woodpeckers of
making noise. Tey are using the sound to help locate grubs most species proclaim their territories by drum-
and insects inside the wood—just as you might tap a hammer ming a loud rapid sequence on a dead branch or hollow RT
HE Northern
along a wall to fnd the hidden stud. Woodpeckers can hear tree. In some cases, they will drum on wood-sided houses, M RAT Flicker—male
when an insect is hiding beneath bark or in a hollow part of rain gutters or other metal surfaces. Tey can be discour- JI
the tree. Ten they use their heavy, chisel-shaped bill to peck aged with balloon scare-eyes or shiny, colorful streamers side or back and forth or pointing their bill up. It isn’t Northern fickers are found throughout the state, but they
beneath the tree bark, but it takes more than a sharp bill to do placed slightly above where the woodpecker is doing dam- uncommon to see their head feathers rufed or their tail tend to be more abundant near big rivers and reservoirs,
the job. Powerful neck muscles drive the blows, and their age. A species that naturally has a loud voice will advertise feathers and wings partially spread, making them appear where large dead or dying trees provide nesting sites.
thick but spongy skull is designed to spread and absorb the its territory by calling, or by both calling and drumming. larger. Many species of woodpeckers showing of for pro-
shock of repeated pounding and to protect the brain. When females and males are pairing up during the mating spective mates futter or foat in fight.
Woodpeckers have long tongues supported by bones that season, they may drum back and forth to each other, duet Tere’s a fne line between love and hate, as they use resist the adorable little downy woodpecker that makes regular
wrap over the top of the skull and attach in their nostrils. style. Tapping on suitable nest sites is a ritual part of court- minor variations of their aggressive displays to court would- appearances at backyard bird feeders? Encountering a mixed
Te bristle tip at the end of their tongue helps them fsh out ship for some species. be mates. Initial encounters between males and females dur- fock of woodpeckers and other birds busily foraging on leaf-
insects hiding in the deep cracks of trees. As a general rule, woodpeckers have many aggressive dis- ing the breeding season may appear hostile, but eventually less trees never fails to break up the monotony of a walk in the
Trees and forests stay healthier because of woodpeckers’ plays they use to defend their territories or feeding sites. the sexes become more tolerant of each other. winter woods. Whether you see woodpeckers in small focks,
eating habits. Most of their diet consists of insects, many of Displays used by woodpeckers involve some kind of motion Nothing breaks the stillness of an Ozark forest like the rau- singly or in pairs, you’ll be delighted by the wide variety of
which are potential timber pests. Woodpeckers fnd insects of the head, whether it be bowing, bobbing, turning side to cous laughlike call of the pileated woodpecker. And who can woodpeckers in Missouri throughout the seasons. ▲
3
Red-bellied Woodpecker—male
Red-bellied Woodpecker or live trees indistinguishable from downies,
▶ female and male incubate four to except at times by volume
JIM Melanerpes carolinus
R fve eggs for 12 days
ATH Wood you care to know more?
ERT Hard-nosed facts: ▶ young fedge in 20 to 25 days • Hairy woodpeckers look a lot like
Downy Woodpecker—female ▶common statewide ▶ call is a frequent high pitched “pik”
downy woodpeckers, but are slightly
▶ 9 inches in length and “ki-ki-ki-ki” rattling series
larger with longer bills.
▶ eats nuts, fruits, tree sap and insects ▶ drums frequently in 1- to 1.5-second
• Males have a red patch on the backs
▶ lives in open woodlands with snags bursts
of their heads that females lack.
and hollow trees
Wood you care to know more? • Tey often forage far from nest sites.
▶ nests in cavities excavated in snags;
• Downies are the smallest of our • Male and female pair bonds are
also uses poles and birdhouses
resident woodpeckers. strengthened through duet
▶ female and male incubate four to
• Usually recognized by their white drumming.
fve eggs for 12 to 14 days
HERT ▶ young fedge in 24 to 27 days backs and short bills, they also have •Tey commonly visit feeders.
AT two black bars on their white outer
M R ▶ call is a loud “chip-chip” or “churr” in Northern Flicker
JI tail feathers.
a series or single notes
• Males have a red patch on the backs
▶ drums (pecks) in bursts as long as Colaptes auratus
of their heads that females lack.
one second Hard-nosed facts:
• Each individual has a one-of-a-kind
▶common statewide
Wood you care to know more? pattern on its head and back.
▶ 12 inches in length
• Red-bellied woodpeckers have a • Tey breed wherever there are trees
▶ eats mostly ants; occasionally seeds,
black-and-white barring pattern on with decayed branches suitable for
Downy Woodpecker—male their backs and wings. nesting and foraging. nuts and grain
▶ lives in forests or in open areas with
• Males have a red patch on the backs • Downies often camoufage the nest
Hairy Woodpecker—female scattered trees
of their necks that extends over the cavity entrance hole with moss,
Red-bellied Woodpecker—female
▶ nests in cavities excavated in snags,
tops of their heads. lichen and fungus.
poles, posts, buildings, banks and
• Females lack red on the tops of their • Woodland edge and wooded riparian
haystacks
heads, but have a red patch on the corridors seem especially attractive
▶ female and male incubate fve to
backs of their necks. to these birds.
eight eggs for 11 to 14 days
• Red color on their bellies is faint. • Tey sometimes uses birdhouses for
▶ young fedge in 25 to 28 days
• Tey breed in urban areas, as well as roosting, but not for nesting.
▶ call is a long, loud, rapid “wik-wik-
in heavily forested regions. •Tey commonly visit feeders.
wik-wik” to “wik-a, wik-a” series
• Like several other woodpecker
species, they hoard nuts, fruits and Hairy Woodpecker ▶drums softly in regular bursts
insects in their cavities and defend Picoides villosus Wood you care to know more?
them within a territory. Te fruits and • Flickers are the only woodpeckers
Hard-nosed facts:
insects are later fed to their young. that frequently feed on open ground.
▶ fairly common statewide
•Tey commonly visit feeders. • In fight, they fash bright yellow on
▶ 7.5 inches in length
their wings and tails, and white on
Downy Woodpecker ▶ eats mostly insects; occasionally
their rumps.
nuts (especially in winter) and sap
Picoides pubescens • Males have black mustaches that
from sapsucker holes
females lack.
Hard-nosed facts: ▶ lives in mature forests; also well-
• Tey consume more ants than any
JIM ▶ common statewide wooded towns and parks other bird species.
Northern Flicker—female RATHERT ▶▶ e6a itnsc mheoss tilny liennsgecthts ; occasionally fruit, ▶▶ nfeemstasl ein a cnadv mitiaelse e ixnccauvbaatteed fionu srn eagggss • Tby eoitrh oelrd s npeescti ecsa,v siuticehs aosft seqnu airrree ulss,e d
seeds and sap from sapsucker holes for 11 to 15 days
A hairy woodpecker’s bill is as long as its head is wide. ▶ eastern screech-owls and American
▶ lives in all types of woodlands, from ▶ young fedge in 28 to 30 days
Downy woodpeckers have shorter bills. They also have kestrels.
extensive mature forests to small ▶ call is a sharp, loud “peek” or “keek-
two or more black bars on their white outer tail feathers. • Flickers are declining signifcantly in
urban woodlots ik-ik-ik” rattling series
Hairy woodpeckers do not have black bars. parts of their range.
▶ nests in cavities excavated in snags ▶ drums frequently, but variably;
Hairy Woodpecker—male
4 JIM RATHERT 5
Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Dryocopus pileatus Melanerpes erythrocephalus Sphyrapicus varius
Hard-nosed facts: Hard-nosed facts: Hard-nosed facts:
▶ uncommon and localized in the ▶ found statewide, but most abundant ▶uncommon winter resident
southern two-thirds of the state in northern half of state ▶ 8.5 inches in length
▶ 17 inches in length ▶ 9 inches long ▶ eats tree sap and cambium, fruit,
▶ eaactosr nmso, nstulyts i nasnedc tssa,p s ome fruit, ▶ emaatste arciaolr ns, fruit, plant and animal ▶ bliveerrsi eins , minisxeecdt sd aecnidd unouutss and D/VIREO
WAR
▶ lives in deciduous and coniferous ▶ breeds in deciduous woodlands and coniferous forests D
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fsourbeusrtsb,s w oodlands, parks and ▶ onpesetns ainre caasv witiitehs escxactatvearteedd t irne es ▶ nbierscths , ipno cpalvairt iaens de xacsapveant;e odf tinen l invee ar © J. R.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker—immature male
▶ nests in cavities excavated in snags barkless snags or dead stubs on live water
(often barkless) trees; also uses natural cavities ▶ female and male incubate fve to six
▶ female and male incubate four eggs ▶ female and male incubate four to eggs for 12 to 13 days
for 15 to 18 days fve eggs for 12 to 13 days ▶ young fedge in 25 to 29 days
▶ young fedge in 26 to 28 days ▶ young fedge in 27 to 30 days ▶ call is a “chur” or “quarr” given in
▶ call is slow, irregular or fast, from ▶ call is a loud “kweer” or “kwee-arr,” series
“a-wik, a-wik” to “wuk-wuk-wuk” given in short series ▶ drums are usually two to three rapid
▶sderruimess loud and steady ▶W doroumd sy soouft lcy ainr esh toor tk bnuorswts more? basenecadot tsnr dfiopsll leo bweeadt sb wy ait hseinri 2es t oo f4 d ouble ODWARD/VIREO Yellow-bellied Sapsucker—immature JIM RATHERT
Wood you care to know more? • Red-headed woodpeckers are easy to WO
• Pileated woodpeckers are the largest identify because they are the only Wood you care to know more? © J. R. Pileated Woodpecker—male
of our resident woodpeckers. Tey woodpeckers in the eastern United • Sapsuckers have white rumps and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker—female
are crow-sized. States with solid red heads. white patches on their shoulders.
• Tey have large red crests, black • Te males and females look alike. • Males have a red throat that females
backs and white underwing color. • Teir young have brown heads that lack.
• Males have red mustaches that don’t turn red until their frst winter. • Tese woodpeckers have an odd
females lack. • Red-headed woodpeckers have tried habit of drilling tiny holes in tree bark
• Tey are most commonly seen fying to adapt to modern landscapes; as in neatly spaced rows, and then
across roads or pastures into an large, towering trees became scarce, returning to them to feed on the sap
adjacent forest. this species switched to using utility that oozes out or on insects attracted
• Teir undulating fight patterns poles and cavities in buildings for to the sap.
distinguishes this species from nest sites. • Tey guard sap wells from other
crows. • Creosote-coated utility poles are birds, squirrels and chipmunks by
• Pileated woodpecker nests usually lethal to eggs and young reared in swooping and squawking at them.
are located in bottomlands or ravines them. • Sapsucker sap wells provide a food GLEN
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in large-diameter trees. • In winter, some individuals will source for migrating hummingbirds. D. CH
• Tey may take as long as 30 days to migrate southward to areas where • Tey drill wells and eat sap from 246 AM
excavate a cavity. there is an abundance of acorns, native tree species. BERS
• Te average territory size for one which they often seal in cavities with • Te young learn sapsucking by
breeding pair in Missouri is 130 to splinters of wood. observing their parents once they
400 acres. • Tis species is declining signifcantly leave the nest.
in parts of its range. • Male and female sapsuckers perform
dcoruumrtsmhiinpg b dounedt.s to strengthen their Red-headed Woodpecker JIM RATHERT
Missouri’s seven species of woodpeckers—
colorful, sometimes noisy and diverse in
lifestyles—are a treat for birdwatchers. Pileated Woodpecker—female
6
Woodpeckers
ENDANGERED
HELPING
Woodpeckers
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
There are a few basic things urban
Campephilus principalis
and rural landowners can do to
Extirpation means no longer living in a certain location or
provide places for woodpeckers to
place. Extinction is forever. Extinct animals or plants no
feed and nest:
longer live anywhere. Until recently, the ivory-billed wood-
pecker was believed to be extinct. Recent sightings in ▶ Don’t cut down snags (standing
Arkansas and Florida provide hope that this magnifcent dead or dying trees) that provide
species still survives in remote forested swamps of the insect food and places to roost and
southeastern United States. However, no verifable evidence HERT nest.
AT
documents their presence. R
JIM ▶ Don’t prune diseased or dead
In the United States, extensive logging of bottomland
tree limbs if it’s safe to leave them.
and virgin cypress forests during the late 1800s and early 1900s led to the demise of the
They also provide insect food and
ivory-billed woodpecker, which once lived in southeastern Missouri. Te species decline
places to excavate cavities.
was especially swift because a single breeding pair needs about three square miles of
undisturbed forest for its territory. ▶ Living trees provide
Wood-boring beetles and grubs that infested dead and dying trees were the ivory-bill’s replacements for snags, which will
principal foods. Te loud, excited “yamp, yamp, yamp” calls it made were similar to the eventually fall over and decompose.
sound produced by a clarinet mouthpiece. It is unlikely that sound ever will be heard again Three snags or more per acre should
in the United States. be left standing.
Our national will to save the ivory-billed woodpecker wasn’t strong enough in 1948,
▶ Let large logs lie. They provide
when the last mature forest that supported these birds along the Tensas River in Louisiana
habitat for the insects that
was cleared for agriculture.
woodpeckers eat.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker ▶ Some species will make use of
nest boxes if wood chips—not
Picoides borealis
sawdust—are provided for them in
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are somewhat diferent from
the cavity and placed in a wooded
other North American woodpeckers because they live in
location.
family groups called clans. Te clans are composed of a
mated pair, their ofspring of the year and, occasionally, ▶ Destroy the nests of starlings and
unmated male helpers. Tis amounts to a cooperative house sparrows. These non-native
breeding arrangement where the clan excavates cavities in REO birds often take over the freshly
a cluster of trees for nest and roost sites and vigorously AKA/VI excavated nest cavities of
defends a 40- to 80-acre territory. © S. M woodpeckers.
It takes two years or more to excavate a cavity because the building sites are always liv-
▶ Place suet, which ofers a source
ing pine trees, which have much harder wood than dead and decaying trees.
of quick energy, in small wire cages,
Above and below each cavity the birds also excavate tiny holes—resin wells—from
nylon mesh bags or a short section of
which pine resin fows. Te oozing, sticky resin helps keep climbing black rat snakes from
log drilled with several 1-inch-
reaching their cavities and preying on eggs and young. Te advantage of all this hard work
diameter holes. Hang or attach to the
is that cavities excavated in living trees can last decades.
side of a tree or pole. Note: suet
Tis southeastern U.S. woodpecker depends on open canopied, mature pine forests that
becomes rancid and harmful to birds in
are periodically thinned by fre. Populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers have been vul-
temperatures higher than 70 degrees.
nerable to elimination, fragmentation or modifcation of those forests by people.
Te species was extirpated from Missouri because wild fres were suppressed, and virgin ▶ Black oil sunfower seed is
consumed out of feeders by some
short-leaf pine forests of the southern Ozarks were logged in the early 1900s.
woodpecker species.
Te last reported red-cockaded woodpecker colony disappeared shortly after the last stand
of virgin short-leaf pine was cut in the spring of 1946 along Highway 19, just south of Round ▶ Landscape your yard with native
Spring in Shannon County. Te closest population to Missouri today lives in the western trees, shrubs and vines—especially
Ouachita region of Arkansas. nut- and fruit-bearing species.
Copyright © 1999, 2008, 2017 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri
W00092
Reprinted from the December 1999 Missouri Conservationist magazine This institution is an equal opportunity provider.