Picus viridis Linnaeus, 1758 · žlna zelená · European Green Woodpecker

Distribution

It occurs across much of Europe and into western Asia, with a closely related species replacing it on the Iberian Peninsula. In Slovakia it is a widespread resident breeder, especially in lowlands and hills, but scarce at higher elevations. It does not undertake regular long-distance migration, making mainly local movements outside the breeding season.

Habitat

Typical places include orchards, parks, village edges and grassland with old trees. It prefers a varied landscape with short grass and ant nests to continuous dark forest. It is often seen on a lawn rather than on a tree trunk.

Breeding

It excavates a nest cavity in a tree in an orchard, park or open woodland. The female usually lays 5–7 white eggs; both parents incubate and feed the chicks. The young continue receiving food for a time after leaving the cavity.

Food

It specialises in ants, extracting adults, larvae and pupae from the ground and their nests with a long sticky tongue. Other insects play a smaller part in its diet.

Interesting fact

Its conspicuous laughing call is a more useful clue than drumming, which is relatively infrequent. This vocal woodpecker can announce its presence from far away despite behaving cautiously around people.

Sources: Slovak Wikipedia · English Wikipedia