<< Previous Next >>

SYRIAN WOODPECKER


SYRIAN WOODPECKER
Photo Information
Copyright: Marius Secan (marius-secan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 194 W: 0 N: 429] (1451)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-11-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-11-06 10:33
Viewed: 189
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
SYRIAN WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPUS SYRIACUS)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) is a member of the woodpecker family, the Picidae.

The Syrian Woodpecker is a resident breeding bird from southeastern Europe east to Iran. Its range has expanded further northwest into Europe in recent years.

It is an inhabitant of open woodlands, cultivation with trees and scrubs, and parks, depending for food and nesting sites upon old trees. It is often an inconspicuous bird, in spite of the plumage. The large white shoulder patch is a feature that catches the eye.

Syrian Woodpecker is 23–25 cm long, and is very similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major. The upper parts of the male are glossy black, with a crimson spot on the nape and white on the sides of the face and neck. On the shoulder is a large white patch and the flight feathers are barred with black and white. The three outer tail feathers show only a few white spots; these show when the short stiff tail is outspread, acting as a support in climbing. The under parts are buffish white, the abdomen and under tail coverts reddish. The long bill is slate black and the legs greenish grey,

The female has no crimson on the nape, and in the young this nape spot is absent, but the crown is crimson.it differs from the smaller Lesser Spotted Woodpecker by the crimson on the abdomen.

It is much harder to distinguish Syrian Woodpecker from Great Spotted Woodpecker. Syrian has a longer bill, and lacks the white tail barring of Great Spotted. Another important distinction is that Syrian does not have the black line connecting the moustachial stripe to the nape shown by the more widespread species.

When hidden by the foliage, the Syrian Woodpecker’s presence is often advertised by the mechanical drumming, a vibrating rattle, produced by the rapidly repeated blows of its strong bill upon a trunk or branch. This is not merely a mating call or challenge, but a signal of either sex. It is audible from a great distance, depending on the wind and the condition of the wood, and a hollow bough naturally produces a louder note than living wood. The drumming is longer than Great Spotted Woodpecker’s, and decreases in volume. It is faster tand shorter than the drumming of White-backed Woodpecker.

The call is a sharp quit, quit, softer than Great Spotted Woodpecker, and something like Redshank.

The Syrian Woodpecker’s food mainly consists of those insects which bore into the timber of forest trees, such as the larvae of wood boring moths and beetles.

The woodpecker usually alights on the trunk, working upwards. During the ascent it taps the bark, breaking off fragments, but often extracts its prey from crevices with the tip of its sticky tongue. Seeds, nuts and berries are eaten when insect food is scarce.

Its actions are jerky, and it hops rather than climbs, leaping forward with one foot just in advance of the other. When a space is crossed the flight is easy and undulating.
Tree with a Syrian Woodpecker's hole.

The neat, round 5cm diameter nesting hole, is bored in soft or decaying wood horizontally for a few inches, then perpendicularly down. At the bottom of the shaft, a small chamber is excavated, where up to 11 creamy white eggs are laid on wood chips.

The hole is rarely used again, but not infrequently other holes are bored in the same tree. Almost any tree sufficiently rotten is used. The young, when the parents are feeding them, cluster at the mouth of the hole and keep a continuous chatter, but when alarmed slip back into the hole.
nglen, roges, nasokoun, Gert-Paassen, hansh, horias has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Syrian Woodpeckermarius-secan 1 11-07 01:45
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Marius,
Nice shot of this woodpecker, good detail with a nice blurred background. You've captured some nice colors as well. TFS
Sion

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 406 W: 0 N: 1011] (5434)
  • [2009-11-06 10:47]

Buna seara,
Culori frumoase, detalii bune pentru recunoasterea speciei, dar citeva lucruri trebuiesc corectate,pentru ca aparatul TAU STIE MULT MAI MULT!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2009-11-06 12:08]

Hi Marius . I like you picture of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker doing what they do most of the time it seems. I like the side view so we can see the colourful feathers which you have taken with fine detail. All with interesting comments. TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 597 W: 0 N: 515] (3068)
  • [2009-11-06 12:52]

Seara buna Marius,
uite si ciocanitoarea din tara romaneasca. Splendida compozitie, felicitari.
Un weekend placut si linistit,
Adrian

Hello Marius,

A fine capture of this colorful Woodpecker with nice details & composition. Lovely POV, pose & BG. Very nicely taken & TFS.

Regards
Umar

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2009-11-06 22:01]
  • [+]

Hello Marius,
As the top of the head of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker is totally red, and this one is red only at the back, this is a male Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopus syriacus).
Nice POV, sharpness,colours and compositiion.
Thanks and have a good weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1580] (6173)
  • [2009-11-06 22:06]

Buna
Va invidiez pentru achizitie...cred ca e cel mai bun aparat de pe piata la ora actuala. Imi place si poza, insa asa cum a spus si Argus este vorba de Ciocanitoarea pestrita de gradina (Dendrocopus syriacus.
Week-end placut
Numai bine
Razvan

hello Marius
a very beautiful classic pose with very good output in colours and in the details splendid colourful background!
TFS
Nasos

Hello Marius,

a very nice picture from this woodpecker and I know it's difficult to catch.
I have here also onee picture from an woodpecker been placed on TN.
Good pov and dof with fine natural colours.

Gert

very nice colors for this nice guy
good job


Greetings

Matteo

Ciao Marius, great capture of fantastic wood pecker with wonderful colors and splendid sharpness, lovely blurry BG, I like a lot, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2009-11-07 1:31]

Hello Marius,
Very nice photo of this Middle spotted Woodpecker. Excellent sharp details, natural colours, composition and POV.
Have a good weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • hansh Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 123] (526)
  • [2009-11-07 3:27]

Hello Marius.

Great shot of this woodpecker with nice colors and a classic but nice POV.

Gr. Hans

Hello Marius,
what fantastic picture of a male Syrian Woodpecker, very good sharpness and splendid classic pose of the bird, very beautiful natural colours in a very pleasing composition with a nice colourful BG.
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

Nu o cheama Woody,ca pe cea din desene animate,dar e la fel de colorata.
Foarte bune detalii.Imi place cum se vede si gheruta cu care sta agatata de copac.
O seara frumoasa.Alin.

Marius
Ciocanitoarea cea buclucasa!!!
Splendide culori, perfecte detalii!
Horia

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF