Howdy, friends.  This week’s bird was one about which I couldn’t find a whole lot of info, so I’m putting up some extra pictures instead.  The “puffing up to make yourself look larger” of header composition.  Our bird this week is the lineated woodpecker.  Although closely related to/often confused for the pileated woodpecker and the crimson crested woodpecker, it is a distinct species.  The pileated woodpecker is common throughout the US and Canada, and the crimson breasted woodpecker shares much the same range as our lineated new friend, but is also distinct.  The lineated woodpecker is apparently quite large for a woodpecker, with a wingspan of 49-58 cm (19-22 inches) and a weight range of 180-280 grams, or approximately .3 to .6 lb.  There are small differences in plumage between males and females, the bird in the header is missing the red “mustache” and is female.  Other than that the birds do not appear to be sexually dimorphic.

The woodpecker’s range is extensive, from the coasts of Mexico through large parts of South America through the entirety of Brazil including some points south.  This bird prefers forest borders and open woodland, which I believe we learned recently means essentially a forest with less than total canopy coverage.  I found something from the USDA saying their definition is 30-80% canopy coverage.  It does not generally live in the mountains, but has been recorded in the Serrania de las Quinchas cloud forest in Colombia, which features mountains as high as 1,700 m (5,600 ft).  

Lineated woodpeckers feed by chipping holes in trees in search of insects.  Their main source of food is ants and ant larvae, but they will eat a wide variety of things including termites, caterpillars, and members of the cricket family.  In addition, they will eat seeds, fruit, berries and nuts.  Nests are made in excavated cavities in dead trees, from 2 to 27 m (6.6–88.6 ft) above ground.  Males and females will both excavate nests, and will take turns brooding over the eggs for two to three hours during the day.  During the night, only the males will incubate the nests.  Eggs are incubated for about 14-16 days.  The resulting chicks are fed about once an hour via regurgitation.  Most often, the female will feed the chicks while the male guards the nest.  Chicks fledge after 28-30 days, and hang out with the parents for several more weeks learning to be woodpeckers.  

The IUCN assesses the bird as “of least concern” due to its large but non-specific population and large range.  It may face threats from deforestation, however.  Alright, there’s a bird.  Have a good weekend, everyone.  Be good to yourselves and others.  

Links: https://tinyurl.com/4y7k2d5d, https://tinyurl.com/4xyzzvtp, https://ebird.org/species/linwoo8, https://tinyurl.com/ne7xybjc, https://tinyurl.com/24jf7cab, https://tinyurl.com/ms3tsfwf, https://tinyurl.com/3vxuk882, https://tinyurl.com/5n78vhuh, https://tinyurl.com/45mcphss