Fun Brown-fronted Woodpecker Facts For Kids

If you like learning about different birds from all over the world, from the rusty blackbird to the hummingbird, then you should definitely give this article on the brown-fronted woodpecker a read! The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is a bird native to Asia. It belongs to the Picidae family and is also known as a brown-fronted pied woodpecker. It is a resident of Asian countries like India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Pakistan. The natural habitat of this woodpecker includes temperate, tropical, and subtropical forests. Being a non-migratory bird, it does not leave its natural habitats and it is very commonly sighted soaring at lower-to-middle altitudes. It primarily forages on the branches of a tree. However, spotting a bird of this species foraging on the ground is not extremely uncommon. The brown-fronted woodpecker is quite social in nature and these birds are often found in pairs or groups, even outside their breeding season. Keep on reading if you want to know more about this species of bird.

For more relatable content, check out these Amazon parrot and hummingbird facts too.

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What type of animal is a brown-fronted woodpecker?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is a type of bird. It belongs to the order Piciformes and the phylum Chordata.

What class of animal does a brown-fronted woodpecker belong to?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) belongs to the Aves class of the Animalia kingdom. It is a member of the family Picidae and the genus Dendrocoptes. The scientific name of this bird is Dendrocoptes auriceps.

How many brown-fronted woodpeckers are there in the world?

The current population of this species of birds is not known. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as Least Concern and the species' population trend has remained stable.

Where does a brown-fronted woodpecker live?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is native to Asia. It is very commonly found in India. Apart from India, Nepal also has a good population of these birds living in its forests. The brown-fronted woodpecker is also a resident of other Asian countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bhutan.

What is a brown-fronted woodpecker's habitat?

The natural habitat of these birds found in India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Pakistan is forests. They are mainly found in temperate forests, but brown-fronted woodpeckers are also a resident of tropical and subtropical forests. They are found at lower-to-middle altitudes of forests in the Himalayas. Primarily found living within the range of 0-9842.5 ft (0-3000 m), these woodpeckers can often be found foraging on the ground. They can also be spotted nesting on the branches of a tree.

Who do brown-fronted woodpeckers live with?

The Dendrocoptes auriceps species belonging to the family Picidae and the genus Dendrocoptes are quite social birds. They are often seen flying in groups or pairs. In regions of India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bhutan, they may even be sighted flying in groups of mixed species of birds.

How long does a brown-fronted woodpecker live?

The exact lifespan of the Dendrocoptes auriceps species of birds that are primarily found at lower-to-middle altitudes of regions of the Himalayas is not known.

How do they reproduce?

Birds of this species follow a monogamous breeding pattern. The breeding season of the brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) in India ranges from April to July. Breeding pairs build nests in holes in a tree trunk. An average of two to five eggs are generally present in a clutch. The parents take turns participating in the incubation process.

What is their conservation status?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is quite widespread in temperate, tropical, and subtropical forests of India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bhutan. It is listed as Least Concern in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

What does a brown-fronted woodpecker look like?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is a medium-sized bird from the Picidae family. One feature unique to birds of this species is their crown. The color of the crown slightly varies in males and females of the species. A male brown-fronted woodpecker has a yellow crown with red rear ends. Females also have yellow crowns but they lack the red plumage. Apart from that, they have black bodies with white markings. In contrast to this, their underparts are white with black markings. They have a brownish-gray or white face with a brownish-gray pointed bill and a prominent black mustache. In addition, these birds have a black tail which has a pinkish underpart.

How cute are they?

Just like a hairy woodpecker, the brown-fronted woodpecker bird with its black body and white markings appears to be very cute. The presence of the yellow crown adds to its beauty.

How do they communicate?

Like most birds, this species uses vocalizations to communicate. They make various rapid sounds. High-pitched 'chitter' and stretchy 'pik' sounds are the most common in these birds. They use these sounds to warn each other of any potential danger or nearby intruders.

How big is a brown-fronted woodpecker?

The brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) is found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests of India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bhutan and it is a medium-sized bird. The average length of a bird of this species ranges from 7.1 to 7.9 in (18-20 cm). Thus, this bird is bigger than a regular seaside sparrow.

How fast can a brown-fronted woodpecker fly?

A brown-fronted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes auriceps) can be very commonly sighted flying or gliding in tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests in regions of the Himalayas. However, their exact speed is not known.

How much does a brown-fronted woodpecker weigh?

The weight of these medium-sized birds ranges from 1-1.2 oz (30-35 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

Male birds are referred to as 'cocks' and female birds are referred to as 'hens'.

What would you call a baby brown-fronted woodpecker?

A baby brown-fronted pied woodpecker is called a 'chick.'

What do they eat?

The brown-fronted pied woodpecker follows an omnivorous diet. The diet of these birds primarily consists of insects. Various bugs, mantids, and beetles fall prey to this species of birds. They also feed on ants, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, and a wide range of other insects. These woodpeckers also consume the larvae of various insects. While forging, they generally use the lower branches of a tree as the probability of an insect flying by is higher in these lower branches. At times, these birds may even come to the ground to forage. Apart from insects and their larvae, these birds also consume different fruits and nuts available in the forest. Various seeds and other plant matters are also a part of their diet.

Are they poisonous?

The brown-fronted pied woodpecker is not known to be poisonous. It does not cause any harm to humans.

Would they make a good pet?

Many people across the brown-fronted woodpecker range map keep these birds as pets. They are sold online or in bird trade markets.

Did you know...

Many taxonomists argue that the brown-fronted woodpecker is a member of the genus Leiopicus and not Dendrocoptes. According to these taxonomists, the scientific name of this bird belonging to the Picidae family is Leiopicus auriceps.

Are brown-fronted woodpeckers endangered?

Although the brown-fronted woodpeckers face some threat of habitat loss due to deforestation, their population has remained stable over the years. These birds can be very commonly spotted in the regions of their natural habitat. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or the CITES has Not Evaluated the conservation status of these species. Moreover,  the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN has listed them as Least Concern in their Red List. So, we may conclude that this species is not endangered or at any immediate risk.

What's the difference between a brown-fronted woodpecker and a downy woodpecker?

Unlike brown-fronted woodpeckers who are native to Asia, downy woodpeckers are found in North America. The downy woodpecker is a migratory bird and this is not a characteristic of the brown-fronted bird. Moreover, there are some visible differences in the coloration of the two birds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our umbrellabird facts and fox sparrow facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable brown-fronted woodpecker coloring pages.