Fr: Pic à tête grise
Ang: Grey-crowned Woodpecker
All: Graukappenspecht
Esp: Carpintero Cabecigrís
Ita: Picchio coronato
Nd: Grijskruinspecht
Sd: mexikansk hackspett
Photographers:
Roger Ahlman
Pbase Galleries Peru and Ecuador
William Price
PBase-tereksandpiper & Flickr William Price
Dubi Shapiro
Dubi Shapiro Photo Galleries
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol. 7 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliott-Jordi Sargatal – Lynx Edicions – ISBN: 8487334377
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF MEXICO AND NORTHERN CENTRAL AMERICA by Steve N. G. Howell, Sophie Webb - Oxford University Press - ISBN: 0198540124
Woodpeckers of the World: The Complete Guide by Gerard Gorman – Editeur: A&C Black, 2014 – Helm Photographic Guides - ISBN: 1408147173, 9781408147177
WOODPECKERS, an identification guide of the woodpeckers of the world by Winkler Hans and Christie David – Helm – ISBN: 0395720435
Fatbirder - The World’s Richest Information Resource about Birds for Birders
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Grey-crowned Woodpecker
Colaptes auricularis
Piciformes Order – Picidae family
INTRODUCTION:
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker is endemic to western Mexico where it frequents humid to semi-humid forests and edges, but also pine-oak forests, from near sea-level (300 metres) up to 2,400 metres of elevation. This species may adapt to disturbed habitats if it can find good food resources.
It feeds on insects, fruits and seeds, and forages on tree trunks and branches by pecking at the bark. However, it may also search for food on the ground.
At the beginning of the breeding season, courtship displays including drumming and aerial displays are observed. The pair typically uses a cavity excavated in dead tree or branch where the eggs are laid. Both parents share the nesting duties.
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation caused by deforestation for agriculture and urbanization. However, the population is suspected to be stable, and currently, the species is not globally threatened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 19-22 cm
Wingspan: 32-38 cm
Weight: M: 64-68 g
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker adult male is a medium-sized Picidae. The grey crown gives the bird its name.
On the upperparts, hindneck, back and scapulars are olive-green (greyer in worn plumage). The wings are slightly brighter. Rump and uppertail-coverts show narrow pale yellowish-white bars. The tail is pale yellowish olive-green with dusky tips to central rectrices. The outer rectrices may sometimes show broad, indistinct markings such as bars or spots.
On the underparts, chin and upper throat are whitish, with more or less dull greyish bars on the lower throat. Both breast and belly are yellowish-white with irregular olive barred or scaly pattern. On the underwing, the coverts are pale yellow.
On the head, crown and nape are pale grey. Lores, ear-coverts and upper cheeks are pale buff to whitish. We can see a conspicuous red moustachial patch contrasting with the pale face.
The strong, long, pointed, chisel-like bill is dark grey.
The eyes are brown.
Legs and zygodactyl feet are grey.
The adult female shows similar appearance, but she lacks the red moustachial stripe.
The juvenile resembles female but the barred pattern of the underparts is less distinct.
The young male has a red throat patch mixed with grey.
RANGE:
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker is a resident endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico, from southern Sonora and Chihuahua to southern Oaxaca.
HABITAT:
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker frequents mainly pine-oak woodlands, semi-humid montane forests and mature second-growths. It may adapt to secondary forests and disturbed habitats near cultivated fields or urban fringes, especially if deadwood is available. It is also found at forest edges, in wooded canyons and areas with scattered trees and snags used for nesting and foraging.
The species is visible from 300 to 2,400 metres of elevation.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker uses high-pitched calls to communicate. These calls, described as sharp pik and wick notes, are often given in short, rapid series that echo through the forest.
Other vocalizations include a rapid, shrill, churring rattle, also a sharp “kea’ah” and a gruff mewing “growh”.
During the courtship displays, the male performs a short, rapid drum on tree trunks. It consists of rapid beats on resonant tree surfaces. This sound is also used for pair communication and territorial displays.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker feeds primarily on ants, termites and beetle larvae, and generally various species of wood-boring insects. These prey are caught by probing bark crevices, pecking at deadwood and gleaning from trunks and branches.
But it also consumes fruits (wild figs), berries and seeds available within its habitat. These food items are taken seasonally, when insects are less abundant, especially during winter.
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker forages along the forest edges and adjacent corridors if large trees persist. It usually feeds on standing dead trees, but also on mature living trees within its forested habitat. It forages at all levels, including on the ground.
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker can be seen alone or in pairs. The species is monogamous and the territory is maintained year-round.
At the beginning of the breeding season, the male performs elaborate courtship displays including aerial acrobatics and drumming on tree trunks. This behaviour is used to attract a female, but also to establish the territory. Once the pair-bond is formed, both mates stay together during a breeding season. Both adults share the nesting duties, including excavating a cavity in decaying trunk or large branch for nesting.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season of the Grey-crowned Woodpecker takes place in spring, when the food resources are abundant.
This species usually breeds in wooded areas with dead or decaying tree trunks and large branches in which the pair excavates the nest-cavity, thanks to their strong, well-adapted, chisel-like bills.
The female lays 3-5 (probably white) eggs and both adults incubate during 14-16 days. At hatching, the chicks are altricial and need considerable care and feeding. The adults feed them a diet including primarily numerous insects. They also protect the clutch from predators.
After fledging, the young birds remain in family groups for some weeks, before to become independent.
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker is resident throughout its range where it can find suitable habitats and abundant food sources. So, it does not need to move.
Like numerous Picidae, it is a good flier, and performs undulating flight with short, rapid wingbeats.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Grey-crowned Woodpecker is affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, caused by heavy deforestation for agriculture expansion and urbanization.
The species has a very large range, but the numbers are undergoing a moderate decline.
The population is placed in the band 20,000/49,999 mature individuals.
However, the population status appears currently stable, and the Grey-crowned Woodpecker is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
