Fun Pale Billed Woodpecker Facts For Kids

What is that bird tap-a-tapping at the wood? It's the pale-billed woodpecker, of course! These woodpeckers belong to the Picidae family and are found in multiple locations all across Central America and North America. They communicate through the tapping of their beaks and through a nasal calling that sounds like a prominent 'keeu-keeu' voice. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has classified these birds as species of Least Concern. Along with the Cornell lab, the IUCN Red List has also classified these birds from Central and North America as a species of Least Concern. Good news for people all around! However, if you ever search for these high-crest birds, they will probably be found hanging out on trees, solitary until the breeding season comes around.

While you search for these birds, start reading on! You can also learn more about a variety of other birds and can start your ornithological adventure with birds like the pileated woodpecker and the Arizona woodpecker. 
 

What type of animal is a pale-billed woodpecker?

The ale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is a type of woodpecker, belonging to the order Piciformes, family Picidae and genus Campephilus.

What class of animal does a pale-billed woodpecker belong to?

Pale-billed woodpeckers (Campephilus guatemalensis) belong to the class Aves.

How many pale-billed woodpeckers are there in the world?

The average population range of the pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is approximately 50,000-500,000 birds in the world.

Where does a pale-billed woodpecker live?

The pale-billed woodpecker, Campephilus guatemalensis, is a regular breeding bird that lives in the woods. The pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is one of the largest woodpeckers that is endemic to the North of Mexico and western Panama.

What is a pale-billed woodpecker's habitat?

Wet forests and semi-open woodlands or surrounding second-growths provide habitats for this pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) species. Lowland woodlands from North Mexico to western Panama are also home to these species.

Who do pale-billed woodpeckers live with?

Pale-billed woodpeckers are mostly solitary species except at the time of breeding. The red-headed woodpecker is also a solitary animal, other than during the mating season.

How long does a pale-billed woodpecker live?

Although the maximum life range of pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is unknown, other Campephilus guatemalensis woodpecker birds are not reported to live more than 15 years. Therefore this figure is commonly used as an approximation.

How do they reproduce?

Typically, the breeding season lasts from August through December. Both parents incubate 2 white eggs deposited in an unfilled nest cavity 3–30 m high inside the tree. Both parents feed the young after they emerge naked from eggs. Billed woodpeckers dig their own nest. They roost in enormous cavities of trees identical to that used for nesting.

The breeding season of a lineated woodpecker is varied by location. Nest holes are dug in dead trees at varying heights, ranging from 2-27 meters above the ground. The clutch size varies between two to four eggs.

What is their conservation status?

Due to its stable population in the world, this North Mexican bird, the pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis), as well as pileated woodpecker species, is declared as of Least Concern by IUCN Red List.

What do pale-billed woodpeckers look like?

This North Mexican billed woodpecker bird looks like a lineated woodpecker, but it's bigger and tougher. The adult species has a mostly black appearance with a pale bill, spiky crest, with white lines running down its shoulders that almost join in such a V on the back. The color of the throat is black, as well as the remainder of the underbelly is white with black bars. The male bird has a red-head with a crest, while the female has a red-head, black throat, and crest. The lack of a white facial band distinguishes the female bird from the lineated woodpecker.

How cute are they?

These are some of the most charming birds, with the bright pale colored bill, pointed crest, and beautiful red-head.

How do they communicate?

Drumming is distinct of these birds, consisting of two fast, strong knocks. The pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) calls include nasal rattles as well as a breeding call that sounds like 'keeu-keeu.'

How big is a pale-billed woodpecker ?

The length range of pale-billed woodpecker, Campephilus guatemalensis, is about 14.5 in (37 cm).  Similar species that share the same order Piciformes (family Picidae) is ivory-billed woodpecker, with length measuring up to 18-20 in (48-51 cm). It is clearly seen that the length range of ivory-billed woodpeckers is much larger than the pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis).

How fast can a pale-billed woodpecker fly?

Although the flying speed of this bird is unknown commonly, woodpeckers can tap up to 20 times a second!

How much does a pale-billed woodpecker weigh?

The average weight of billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) is about 9 oz (255 gm).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no sex-specific names for males or females.

What would you call a baby pale-billed woodpecker?

The baby of pale-billed woodpecker, Campephilus guatemalensis, has no distinguished name, though baby birds are generally called chicks.

What do they eat?

While a search for bugs in trees, a pale-billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) chips out enormous holes. Beetle larvae are their main source of food, but they also eat lizards, berries, as well as other fruits.

Are they dangerous?

Pale-billed woodpeckers, unlike humans, can open even the most hardened drill pores in tree wood. If someone threatens the nest, birds can bluff a strike by launching a ferocious attack against you. While it may be shocking and intimidating, the birds are unlikely to harm anyone.

Would they make a good pet?

These woodpeckers are wild birds, and their numbers are fast declining. Keeping a woodpecker as a pet is prohibited in many regions of North America. Keeping this wild bird in captivity is therefore not a smart option.

Did you know...

These woodpecker birds contribute significantly to the health of our environment. Thousands of timber chewing insects, as well as other plant pests, are eaten by them. Most of these woodpecker species can be seen swirling around a tree trunk in search of their favorite food, like beetle larvae.

Acorn woodpecker stores acorns in trees. So they don't move in the winter because they have a source of food in trees.

What woodpeckers are extinct?

The Bermuda flicker, ivory-billed woodpecker, and imperial woodpecker might be extinct. The imperial woodpecker is indigenous to Mexico and also the world's biggest woodpecker species if it isn't extinct.

What is the rarest woodpecker?

The largest of the woodpecker north of Mexico and the third-largest in the world, the population of the ivory-billed woodpecker is just 1-49 birds. With this few populations, this is the rarest woodpecker in the world. Because of habitat degradation and hunting, the ivory-billed woodpecker species is classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN Red List. But to the American Birding Association, this ivory-billed woodpecker is Certainly, or Likely, Extinct.

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 wren facts and lovely cotinga facts pages.

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