Hispaniolan Woodpecker
A species of Melanerpine Woodpeckers Scientific name : Melanerpes striatus Genus : Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Hispaniolan Woodpecker, A species of Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Botanical name: Melanerpes striatus
Genus: Melanerpine Woodpeckers
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Hispaniolan woodpecker is a gold and black barred bird growing to a length of from 22 to 28 cm (8.7 to 11.0 in). The adult male has a red crown and nape and is larger than the female, with a longer beak. The upper neck is striped black and white and the back and wings are boldly striped in black and gold. The rump is greenish-yellow, with some red on the feather tips, and the upper side of the tail is black with red upper-tail coverts. The underside of the wings is greyish-brown with pale spotting and barring, and the underside of the tail is grey or olive. The fore-crown is grey or buff, the face and throat are grey and the underparts are buff, brown or olive, with some dark streaking on the flanks. The iris is yellow, the beak is long, slender, and grey, and the legs are grey. The adult female is similar to the male but has a black crown and red nape. The juvenile has a black crown with white and red spotting, an orange nape, and dark iris. This woodpecker is quite vocal, emitting a range of sounds including yapping, squeaking, rolling and nasal calls. Drumming is done only occasionally. 
Size
24 cm
Feeding Habits
Hispaniolan Woodpecker primarily feeds on insects like beetles and ants, including larvae and pupae, as well as spiders and scorpions. They also consume fruits, seeds, nuts, and tree sap, and may forage on commercial crops like corn and cacao. Hispaniolan Woodpecker's diet is rounded out with occasional small vertebrates such as lizards.
Habitat
The habitat of hispaniolan Woodpecker spans a variety of landscapes, often associated with wooded regions. Typically found in environments ranging from wooded swamps and mangroves to coastal scrub and semi-arid zones at low altitudes, the species extends its range into humid montane forests. Hispaniolan Woodpecker is also prevalent in pine woodlands and amidst the vegetation of villages and towns, particularly favoring regions with a proliferation of trees and palms. Cultivated areas, especially those in hilly regions, serve as a preferred habitat for hispaniolan Woodpecker, which can thrive from sea level up to 2400 meters in elevation.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Behavior
Hispaniolan woodpeckers are omnivorous, and primarily eat insects, berries, fruits, and plants. Since their source of food is in high trees, this species is rarely seen foraging on the ground; rather, they forage on the sides of tree trunks. They are known to be a crop pest in the Dominican Republic for eating from cacao plants and other fruit producing trees. They are known not to eat the seeds in the cacao plant, but the holes they create can lead to insect damage. Nestlings also receive a diverse diet from their parents. Usually the food given is regurgitated, but parents will also give young non-regurgitated food. Some sexual dimorphisms have been compared with the foraging habits of this species. It has been noted that males and females sometimes differ in foraging habits. Females tend to glean on small branches, while males tend to tap and probe. Evidence of differing bill size shows dimorphism between the sexes in relation to foraging practices. As stated already, it is possible that the physical mechanics that males and females present in foraging, could connect to diverging characteristics in their physiological structure.
Distribution Area
This bird is endemic to both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is mostly a woodland bird. Its range extends through many of Hispaniola's biomes: wet, dry, broadleaf, and coniferous forests, but also occurs in plantations, cactus scrub, mangrove areas, swamps, grasslands, palm groves, wooded agricultural areas, and urban parks.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Family
Woodpeckers Genus
Melanerpine Woodpeckers Species
Hispaniolan Woodpecker 
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