Black Woodpecker

Dryocopus martius (Linnaeus, 1758)

2012-09-28 Burabay. Schuchie (Pike) lake	© Antonina Fokina

Distribution

Breeds in Altai, in Saur, Tarbagatay ridge, Kalbinskiy Altai, Trans-Irtysh area near Semipalatinsk, Kokchetav upland and probably in valley of middle current of Ural. On dispersing occurs in lower current of Ural valley (seven birds recorded from 30 September up to 22 October 1956), once (in 1924) observed in Naurzum pine forest.

Biology

Rare resident. Inhabits the old coniferous (fir, larch, pine) or mixed (pine, birch) forests at altitude up to 2000 m. On dispersal occurs in deciduous forests. Breeds by separate pairs in tree holes (larch, pine, spruce or asp); nest-hole with specific rectangular-shaped entrance at height 3-20 m above the ground. Clutch of 3-5 eggs is laid probably in May – June. Fledglings recorded in July – early August. Dispersing birds observed in September – November and March.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.