Fun Laced Woodpecker Facts For Kids

The laced woodpecker (Picus vittatus) is a species of bird found throughout Southeast Asia. It is a species of woodpecker in the family Picidae. A species in Bangladesh was earlier recorded to be a part of this species, however, it was later unidentified as a streak-breasted woodpecker. Picus vittatus birds are found throughout Southeast Asia which includes China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. It is a resident bird species and has been recorded as a common resident bird in Singapore. Sumatra, Java, and Bali are some places where these birds are known to be based currently. This bird species feeds on the ground as well as in tree habitats. This foraging behavior is unique and may not be seen in many other birds in the same genus.

The laced woodpecker appearance is marked by the red crest and upper parts in the males. Males also have a yellow nape and narrow bands on the underside. Females of the Picus vittatus, however, are less yellow in color and are recorded with white spots on the face. Females have a black crest and nape.

Picus vittatus birds are commonly seen in external habitats of forests and secondary growth. The birds of thia species are found in forest edge areas, wooded areas, mangroves, parks, and gardens among many other forest habitats all around the world. They may be affected by some activities in those habitats in the future, but for now, these birds are abundantly found all over the world and there is no threat to their populations currently.

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What type of animal is a laced woodpecker?

The laced woodpecker (Picus vittatus) is a species of woodpecker bird found in Asia. These birds are commonly seen in all habitats.

What class of animal does a laced woodpecker belong to?

The laced woodpecker (Picus vittatus) is part of the genus Picus of the order Piciformes in the class of Aves of the kingdom of Animalia.

How many laced woodpeckers are there in the world?

The population of this bird (Picus vittatus) is not known. However, this bird species has a large distribution covering a large area of 1571435.7 sq mi (4,070,000 sq km), meaning even if Picus vittatus birds are not endemic to a particular region, the area of coverage is huge and there is currently no danger to the population of this bird species. A decreasing behavior has been noticed in their population trend, but it is negligible at the moment.

Where does a laced woodpecker live?

The laced woodpecker range map includes most countries Southeast Asia including China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. These birds are residents of these places and are seen foraging and breeding in these regions exclusively.

The laced woodpecker migrate data says that the species is non-migratory.

What is a laced woodpecker's habitat?

The habitat of Picus vittatus includes subtropical/tropical moist montane forest, subtropical/tropical mangroves, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical/tropical dry forest. The habitat of these birds also includes secondary forests, edges of forests, as well as, gardens and parks.

Who do laced woodpeckers live with?

The laced woodpecker (Picus vittatus) is usually seen in pairs or living solitarily. They are seen foraging on the ground as well as up in trees.

How long does a laced woodpecker live?

The lifespan of this bird is not known.

How do they reproduce?

There is not much information on the breeding patterns of this bird species. The breeding season has been seen from February to July, however, in Java, breeding happens in January, April, and September.

The nest is made in a tree and the female lays around three to four laced woodpecker eggs.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the bird has been categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

There are not many issues that hurt the population of the laced woodpecker. An Endangered status has not been given to this species yet as the population range is quite large in the laced woodpecker habitat. The distribution is also very spread out for this bird species.

What do laced woodpeckers look like?

The laced woodpecker male has a red forehead to crown and a short crest. This is bordered by thin black lines. A narrow white eyering is seen on the bird. The ear coverts are colored pale grayish to buffish which is faintly streaked with brown color. There is a black-colored malar stripe with white spots. The plumage is plain whitish buff and sometimes pale yellow-green. A yellow chin and throat are sometimes seen. The upper parts are yellow-green and more yellow coloration is seen on the rump. The wings are bronze-green in color and the lower breast has scaly patterns. The bill is long and broad.

The laced woodpecker female is similar to the male but has a shorter bill and a black crown and nape. Juveniles are dull in color and the markings on the underparts are less. Laced woodpecker feathers on the wings are blackish-brown in color.

How cute are they?

They are considered to be quite cute due to their colorful feathers.

How do they communicate?

The mode of communication of these birds is through calls and the bird has a sharp and loud 'kip' call. This call turns into two notes if confronted by predators or intruders.

How big is a laced woodpecker?

The length of this species is 10.63-13 in (27-33 cm), The laced woodpecker wingspan size is not known.

The great spotted woodpecker of the family Picidae has a range of length between 7.8-9.8 in (19.8-24.8 cm). The bird is found in North Africa, North America, north Asia, and north Europe.

How fast can a laced woodpecker fly?

The flying speed is not known, but they should be quick and agile when flying.

How much does a laced woodpecker weigh?

The weight of a laced woodpecker ranges up to 0.29 lb (131.5 g). The red-headed woodpecker of the same family as the laced woodpecker (Picus vittatus) has a weight of around 0.15-0.16 lb (68-72.5 g). This bird species is commonly seen in most of North America.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and female species of the bird are not given different names.

What would you call a baby laced woodpecker?

Babies are called chicks, young, or juveniles.

What do they eat?

Picus vittatus birds are known to feed on beetles and flies. Any more information on the laced woodpecker diet is not available, however, other species of woodpeckers are known to feed on insects, tree sap, nectar, nuts, seeds, berries, and fruits. The bird is known to forage on the ground as well as in trees for food.

Animals like bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and hawks are known to prey on different species of woodpeckers across all the different habitats around the world where woodpeckers live. Some species of snakes and other reptiles also feed on the eggs of these birds.

Are they poisonous?

They are not considered poisonous.

Would they make a good pet?

They are usually not kept as pets as they thrive and flourish in their natural habitats.

Did you know...

The scientific name Picus vittatus is used for the identification of the bird, the laced woodpecker. Singapore is known for being the common breeding ground for these birds and they are the common breeding residents in the Singapore region.

Apart from the laced woodpecker, the lesser goldenback woodpecker is also called a tree doctor as these birds are known to feed on insects that kill trees.

The red on the head of many woodpeckers is subjective to the region and climate they inhabit.

Laced woodpeckers are not endangered.

Why is it called a tree doctor?

Laced woodpeckers are known to have strong bills with chisel-like tips. The long and sticky tongues extract insects from the trees. This nature makes them the perfect deterrent to insects that infest trees.

What role do laced woodpeckers play in the ecosystem?

Laced woodpeckers keep trees healthy by keeping out insect infestations by moving from tree to tree. Woodpeckers also excavate nesting cavities from scratch as they are primary cavity nesters. This helps the ecosystem too.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these flycatcher facts and canyon wren facts for kids.

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