Family Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Least Concern
Grey-faced Woodpecker (Picus canus)
Taxonomy
French: Pic cendré German: Grauspecht Spanish: Pito cano
Other common names:
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Taxonomy:
Picus canus
J. F. Gmelin
, 1788,Norway
.
Subspecies and Distribution
P. c. canus
J. F. Gmelin, 1788 – Europe (from S Scandinavia and France) E to W Siberia and Turkey#R.
P. c. jessoensis
Stejneger, 1886 – E Siberia to Sakhalin and N Japan (Hokkaido), S to NE China.
P. c. griseoviridis
(A. H. Clark, 1907) – Korea.
Descriptive notes
28–33 cm; 125–165 g (canus), 110–206 g (jessoensis). Male nominate race has red upper forehead and forecrown (often yellowish at rear... read more
Voice
Single “kik” calls; descending sequence of 5–20 clearly separated mournful... read more
Habitat
Open country with many copses, in not over-dense forest, floodplain-forest, parks, orchards,... read more
Food and feeding
Appears to have more varied diet than that of P. viridis. Chiefly ants (Myrmica, Lasius), termites (... read more
Breeding
Lays from end Apr to early Jun. During courtship, landing with fluttering wingbeats associated with presence of partner and a nest-hole;... read more
Movements
Essentially non-migratory. Some local post-breeding movements to more favourable, usually lower-... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Reasonably common, if rather local, throughout most of range. Locally common in Europe and across much of Asian distribution;... read more
Hitherto considered conspecific with P. guerini and P. dedemi, but differs from former in its less deep, more restricted red on forecrown (2), grey hindcrown with vague blackish streaking vs black hindcrown (with some grey streaking) (3), less dark green plumage above (1), reportedly marked vocal differences (assume at least 1); differs from dedemi in its green vs bronzy-red upperparts and its greenish-tinged pale grey vs bronzy-red breast (3), yellowish vs brilliant red rump (3), dull greyish to olive-grey vs blackish belly and vent (2). Has hybridized with P. viridis in C Europe#R. Several other races have been described throughout species’ vast range, but differ in only very minor, insignificant characters; thus, named forms perspicuus (from Bulgaria), biedermanni (Altai Mts), zimmermanni (NE China) and perpallidus (Ussuriland) do not warrant separation. Three subspecies currently recognized.