Great Spotted Woodpecker
アカゲラ
Scientific name: Dendrocopos major
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with bold black-and-white plumage and red coloring under the tail. In Japanese it is called アカゲラ / Akagera. It has a strong chisel-like bill, stiff tail feathers for support, and powerful feet that help it climb tree trunks.
The male has a red patch on the back of the head, while the female does not. Young birds can show red on the crown, so they may look different from adults. When flying, the black-and-white wing pattern is very noticeable.
In Japan, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is mainly a bird of forests and wooded areas, especially mature deciduous forest, mixed forest, beech woodland, mountain forest, parks with large trees, and old woodland edges. It drums on trees in spring to communicate and defend territory.
Habitat: Deciduous forest, mixed forest, mature woodland, mountain forest, parks with old trees
Range in Japan: Mainly Hokkaido and Honshu; strongest in suitable forests and wooded mountain areas
Diet: Beetle larvae, insects, ants, spiders, tree sap, seeds, nuts, berries
Season: Year-round resident in suitable forest habitat
Size: About 23–26 cm
Nesting: Excavates a nest hole in a tree trunk or large branch
Behavior: Climbs tree trunks, drums loudly, and searches bark for insects
Conservation: Widespread in suitable forest, but mature trees and healthy woodland are important
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a striking black-and-white forest bird with a red undertail and a strong bill made for drilling into wood. In Japan, アカゲラ is mainly found in Hokkaido and the forested mountains of Honshu, where it lives in mature woodland with old trees. It climbs tree trunks using its stiff tail for support and searches bark for insects and larvae. Its loud drumming is one of the classic sounds of Japan’s spring forests.
Great Spotted Woodpecker アカゲラ
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a striking forest bird found in broadleaf
forests, mixed woodlands, mountain forests, parks, orchards, and tree-rich
areas in Japan. It has bold black-and-white plumage, white shoulder patches,
a strong chisel-like bill, and red markings under the tail. Males also show
a red patch on the back of the head.
This woodpecker climbs tree trunks and branches while searching for insects,
larvae, spiders, seeds, and nuts. It often drums on dead branches or tree
trunks to communicate and defend territory. Its sharp calls, strong climbing
style, and beautiful pattern make it one of Japan’s most recognizable
woodland birds.
Category
Woodpeckers, Forest Birds, Tree-climbing Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Broadleaf Forests, Mixed Woodlands, Mountain Forests, Parks, Orchards
Region
Japan, Europe, East Asia, Northern Asia
Behavior
Tree Climbing, Drumming, Bark Foraging, Insect and Seed Feeding
Population
Common in Suitable Woodland Habitat
アカゲラ Great Spotted Woodpecker
アカゲラは、日本の広葉樹林、混交林、山地の森林、公園、果樹園、
樹木の多い場所などで見られる美しいキツツキの仲間です。白黒の
はっきりした羽色、白い肩の斑、木を削るための丈夫なくちばし、
尾の下の赤い模様が特徴です。オスには後頭部にも赤い斑があります。
木の幹や枝を登りながら、樹皮の下にいる昆虫、幼虫、クモ、
種子、木の実などを探して食べます。枯れ枝や木の幹を連続して
たたくドラミングを行い、なわばりの主張やコミュニケーションに使います。
鋭い声、力強い木登り、美しい模様で、日本の森でもよく目立つ鳥です。
Category
キツツキ科、森林の鳥、木登りする鳥
Habitat
広葉樹林、混交林、山地の森林、公園、果樹園、樹木の多い場所
Region
日本、ヨーロッパ、東アジア、北アジア
Behavior
木登り、ドラミング、樹皮で採食、昆虫や種子を食べる
Population
適した森林環境では普通に見られる
