Acorn woodpecker

Acorn woodpecker
Carpintero de Robles

Melanerpes formicivorous

This woodpecker measures 23 cm (9 in) in length. It has a black plumage in most of its body. It has a white-creamy ‘clownlike’ face pattern. Black feathers cover its forehead and ocular region extending to neck and tail. Forehead and auricular area white. Iris is white. Rump white as well as the patches on wings. Underparts white. Black patch around its strong conical black bill. Gregarious, in pairs or in large groups. Collect acorns and other nuts that are kept in holes called granaries. Holes are perforated on trunks and wood structures with their strong bills. Holes are used for roosting but not for nesting. Nest are constructed with the wood chips that fall down. They fly to the ground to eat ants and other insects. They do not perforate wood for insects as other carpenters do. Feed on fruit, seeds, nectar, and sap. Clutch size is from 3 to 7 white eggs incubated by the female for 11 days. Chicks leave the nest after 30-32 days. Unusual behavior and complex social structure. Before her posture, she destroys the eggs of other acorn woodpeckers. Then, she removes the destroyed eggs from the nest to a site nearby where she eats them together with others including the female who laid them. Up to 12 males help in the incubation, feeding, and caring for the chicks.

Este carpintero payaso vive cerca de los robles. Mide 23 cm pico a cola. La mayor parte de su cuerpo con plumaje negro. Su cara presenta una parte crema clara que le da una apariencia de payaso. La frente superior y región ocular es negra y se extiende de la nuca hasta la cola. La frente inferior es blanca y llega hasta los auriculares. De iris blanco. Su rabadilla es blanca. Alas con manchas blancas. Partes inferiores blancas. Gregarias, en pares o en familia. Presenta plumas cortas negras debajo de su pico. Este pico es cónico y robusto. En regiones de estaciones, recoge nueces de roble o de otras especies y las almacenas para el invierno en huecos llamados graneros que construyen en troncos secos de árboles viejos. Con el material que picotean hacen su nido. No excavan la madera para buscar insectos como el resto de carpinteros. Se alimentan de insectos, frutas, semillas, néctar y savia. La postura consiste de 3 a 7 huevos blancos que incuban por 11 días. Dejan del nido a los 30-32 días. De estructura social compleja ya que la hembra se adueña de un nido con postura de la misma especie y los perfora. Retira los huevos a un sitio cercano donde se los come junto con otros carpinteros incluyendo la hembra que los puso. Un solo nido para un grupo hasta de 12 machos que los incuba, alimenta y cuida.

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Acorn woodpecker | Carpintero de Robles | Melanerpes formicivorous

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