Hello, everyone! Today, let’s have a leisurely chat about the Japanese Green Woodpecker, a bird that’s close to our everyday lives. I hope you’ll enjoy discovering the charm of this little bird, which you might spot while walking through the woods.
The Japanese Green Woodpecker is about 29 cm long, larger than a sparrow but about the size of a brown-eared bulbul. True to its name, it has a beautiful yellow-green back. The male has a broadly red head, while the female has red only on the back of her head, so you can tell their gender by looking closely.
These woodpeckers live in deciduous forests and primarily feed on insects and spiders. They have a habit of drilling holes in trees to make their nests, which are later used by other creatures as well.
Doesn’t their call, a “pyo-pyoo” sound, evoke a sense of nostalgia? Hearing it in the forest makes you want to stop and look for them. Then there’s the “drumming” sound they make by pecking at trees. Males drum vigorously on wood as a unique way to appeal to females, different from the calls of other birds. This too is part of the rhythm of the forest.
Next time you visit the woods, try paying a bit more attention to the Japanese Green Woodpecker. Observing their vibrant colors, listening to their distinctive calls, and the rhythm of their pecking can make your walk even more enjoyable. You’ll surely appreciate anew the presence of such a charming creature in nature.
