Grey-headed woodpecker

Picus canus

The grey-headed woodpecker, also known as the grey-faced woodpecker, is a Eurasian member of the woodpecker family Piciformes.
Grey-headed woodpecker female Grey-headed woodpecker - Picus canus Animal,Animalia,Aves,Bird,Bulgaria,Chordata,Dendrarium Botanical Garden,Europe,Fall,Geotagged,Grey-headed woodpecker,Nature,Picidae,Piciformes,Picus canus,Vitosha Mountain Nature Park,Wildlife

Appearance

It is 25–28 cm long and weighs 130-180 grams. Its plumage closely resembles its near relative the European green woodpecker. It has green upperparts, pale grey underparts and a yellow rump. It has a grey head with black moustache, and the male has a red crown. It has a shorter neck, slimmer bill and slightly rounder head than the green woodpecker.
Grey-headed woodpecker - Picus canus  Animalia,Aves,Chordata,Danube delta biosphere reserve,Europe,Geotagged,Grey-headed woodpecker,Picidae,Piciformes,Picus canus,Romania,Spring,Wildlife

Naming

The Sibley-Monroe checklist has two birds called "grey-headed woodpecker", "Picus canus" and "Dendropicos spodocephalus". For the latter, see grey woodpecker.

Behavior

Grey-headed woodpeckers live in leaf forests and mixed forests. They breed in May and lay five to ten eggs which are brought up by both parents. The young hatch after 15–17 days, and learn to fly in four weeks.

In summer, the grey-headed woodpecker eats maggots, beetle larvae and other insects. In winter it takes seeds, and can even come to garden feeding places, especially if fat is offered.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPiciformes
FamilyPicidae
GenusPicus
SpeciesP. canus
Photographed in
Bulgaria
Romania