The white-headed woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) is a non-migratory woodpecker that resides in pine forests of the mountains of western North America.
It has a black body (approximately 20 cm (7.9 in) long) and white head. It has white primary feathers that form a crescent in flight. Males have a red spot at the back of the head.
Distribution and habitat
The range of the white-headed woodpecker stretches in the mountains from British Columbia through southern California. They form nests in dead trees or snags and reproduce once per year.
Taxonomy
Most of the range is occupied by the nominate subspecies. In the southern part of the range, L. a. gravirostris, which has a longer bill - especially in males - and tail, is only found on mountaintops of the San Gabriel Mountains to San Diego County. Birds on Mount Pinos are somewhat intermediate. mtDNAcytochrome b and ATP synthasesubunit 6 sequence data confirms this arrangement and also suggests that the Mount Pinos birds are closer to L. a. gravirostris (Alexander & Burns, 2006). Apparently, the larger bill of the southern subspecies is an adaptation for being better able to feed on the large, spiny cones of Coulter pines (Pinus coulteri). Some taxonomic authorities, including the American Ornithological Society, continue to place this species in the genus Picoides.
A pair of white-headed woodpeckers playing around a tree near Lake Tahoe
References
^BirdLife International (2016). "Leuconotopicus albolarvatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22681169A92895670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22681169A92895670.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^"NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
Alexander, Matthew P.; Burns, Kevin J. (2006). "Intraspecific Phylogeography and Adaptive Divergence in the White-headed Woodpecker". Condor. 108 (3): 489–508. doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2006)108[489:IPAADI]2.0.CO;2.
External links
Media related to Leuconotopicus albolarvatus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Picoides albolarvatus at Wikispecies
USGS Forest and Rangeland birds
, a bibliographic resource
White-headed woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
white, headed, woodpecker, white, headed, woodpecker, leuconotopicus, albolarvatus, migratory, woodpecker, that, resides, pine, forests, mountains, western, north, america, male, white, headed, woodpeckerconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, apparently, se. The white headed woodpecker Leuconotopicus albolarvatus is a non migratory woodpecker that resides in pine forests of the mountains of western North America White headed woodpeckerMale white headed woodpeckerConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Apparently Secure NatureServe 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PiciformesFamily PicidaeGenus LeuconotopicusSpecies L albolarvatusBinomial nameLeuconotopicus albolarvatus Cassin 1850 SubspeciesL a albolarvatus Cassin 1850 Common white headed woodpecker L a gravirostris Grinnell 1902 Southern white headed woodpeckerWhite headed woodpecker rangeSynonymsPicoides albolarvatus Leuconerpes albolarvatus Cassin 1850 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Taxonomy 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditIt has a black body approximately 20 cm 7 9 in long and white head It has white primary feathers that form a crescent in flight Males have a red spot at the back of the head Distribution and habitat EditThe range of the white headed woodpecker stretches in the mountains from British Columbia through southern California They form nests in dead trees or snags and reproduce once per year Taxonomy EditMost of the range is occupied by the nominate subspecies In the southern part of the range L a gravirostris which has a longer bill especially in males and tail is only found on mountaintops of the San Gabriel Mountains to San Diego County Birds on Mount Pinos are somewhat intermediate mtDNA cytochrome b and ATP synthase subunit 6 sequence data confirms this arrangement and also suggests that the Mount Pinos birds are closer to L a gravirostris Alexander amp Burns 2006 Apparently the larger bill of the southern subspecies is an adaptation for being better able to feed on the large spiny cones of Coulter pines Pinus coulteri Some taxonomic authorities including the American Ornithological Society continue to place this species in the genus Picoides A pair of white headed woodpeckers playing around a tree near Lake TahoeReferences Edit BirdLife International 2016 Leuconotopicus albolarvatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22681169A92895670 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22681169A92895670 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 NatureServe Explorer 2 0 explorer natureserve org Retrieved 31 March 2022 Alexander Matthew P Burns Kevin J 2006 Intraspecific Phylogeography and Adaptive Divergence in the White headed Woodpecker Condor 108 3 489 508 doi 10 1650 0010 5422 2006 108 489 IPAADI 2 0 CO 2 External links Edit Media related to Leuconotopicus albolarvatus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Picoides albolarvatus at Wikispecies USGS Forest and Rangeland birds White headed woodpecker a bibliographic resource White headed woodpecker photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University White headed woodpecker media Internet Bird Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White headed woodpecker amp oldid 1116043609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
