The Role of a Woodpecker's Tail and an Introduction to Common Species in China
The woodpecker is a common resident bird in forests, also called the tree doctor, because it can eliminate pests under the bark, such as longhorn beetle larvae, jewel beetles, clearwing moths, stink bugs and other pests. Woodpeckers are mainly distributed in Norway, Germany, Russia, Japan, the Alps, the Balkan Peninsula, Southeast Asia and other places. In China, the green woodpecker and the spotted woodpecker are the more widely distributed species. Let's take a look below at what role a woodpecker's tail plays and what common species there are in China.
I. What role does a woodpecker's tail play?
A woodpecker's tail is very hard and strong. This is because when the woodpecker catches insects on tree trunks to eat, the tail serves to support its entire body. In addition, it also plays an auxiliary role when the woodpecker climbs tree trunks. Furthermore, a woodpecker's tail can help maintain body balance, control flight speed, control body steering, and control acceleration and deceleration in flight, and so on. So you should not only notice the woodpecker's sharp, large beak; its tail also has a very strong function.
II. What common woodpecker species are there in China?
1. Green woodpecker
The green woodpecker is a relatively common species among them, and the difference in appearance between male and female is that the male bird has a red patch on its head, while the female does not.
The green woodpecker is distributed in all parts of China. In summer it likes to roost among mountain forests, and in winter it goes to the thickets near the plains and close to the mountains, wandering with its food.
2. Spotted woodpecker
The spotted woodpecker is a variegated woodpecker, with a black back, white shoulders, red undertail coverts and white wing patches. The spotted woodpecker is distributed in all provinces of China except Taiwan, China and Xizang, and is a common beneficial bird in gardens, villages, groves and forests in mountainous areas and plains.
The spotted woodpecker also has its shortcomings. When it pecks for insects, it makes many holes in the tree trunk, making it easy for pathogens and pests to breed there; at the same time, it also eats some crops and forest tree fruits and seeds, especially in winter, so it also does considerable harm.
3. Red-breasted barbet
The red-breasted barbet is a small woodpecker. The back of its crown is black, and the rest is olive green, very beautiful, like the color of a parrot.
The red-breasted barbet is mainly distributed in the plains at the foot of mountains, low mountains and farmland areas. Besides eating insects and insect larvae, it also eats plant seeds and fruits.
The red-breasted barbet likes to move about alone, and its breeding period is from March to May. It has been listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species 2012 ver 3.1——Least Concern (LC).
4. Yellow-billed bay woodpecker
The yellow-billed bay woodpecker is commonly found in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan and other areas of China. Its appearance has reddish-brown markings, and there are red patches on the sides of its neck.
5. Red-bellied woodpecker
The red-bellied woodpecker is a medium-sized bird, with the female black and the male having a red crown. China has only one subspecies, and its numbers are very scarce. It is a beneficial bird that is helpful to humans.