Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Okinawa woodpecker
- Scientific name: Dendrocopos noguchii, Okinawa woodpecker
- Classification: Climbing birds
- Family and genus: Order Vulpetiformes, Family Woodpeckers, Genus *Woodpecker*
Vital signs data
- Body length: 30-40 cm
- Weight: No verification information available.
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
Special Natural Monument of Okinawa Prefecture
Distribution and Habitat
The Okinawan woodpecker is found only on Okinawa Island (prefecture) in Japan.
The Okinawan woodpecker is a tropical animal that mainly lives in the thickets of hills or plains near mountains covered by primary forests (evergreen broad-leaved forests).
Appearance
The Okinawan Woodpecker shares similar basic physical characteristics and habits with other woodpeckers. It measures 30–40 cm in length; its beak is slender and chisel-like, about 15 cm long, and horny; its tongue is long, retractable, and tipped with short hooks; its belly is white; the down around its rump is pale red; it has 12 tail feathers with stiff, flexible shafts; its legs are short and black, with four toes (two in front and two behind) and sharp claws. Its main characteristics are its plumage, a mixture of blackish-brown and greyish-brown; red from the forehead to the crown with black spots, and red from the back to the tail coverts with dense black horizontal stripes.
Detailed introduction
The Okinawa woodpecker, scientifically known as Dendrocopos noguchii, is an estimated extinct species of woodpecker.
The Okinawan woodpecker is a solitary bird that nests in tree cavities and frequently moves its nest depending on food availability. It can emit 4-7 calls in a single minute. It feeds on tree-climbing parasites but also forages on the ground. In spring and summer, it primarily eats insects, while in autumn and winter it consumes both plants and tree fruits.
Protect wild animals and ban the consumption of wild game.
Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!
