Monday, 17 January 2011

Woodpecker (Kaththokra) is a native bird of Bangladesh

A adult female Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker
A adult male Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker
A adult male Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker
A adult male woodpecker or Kaththokra
A woodpecker or Kaththokra sitting on its tail
A woodpecker or Kaththokra with its claw
A woodpecker or Kaththokra sitting on its stiff tail
A female Black-rumped Flameback, also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker 
Holes bored by woodpecker or kaththokra
A male and a female woodpecker or kaththokra 
A female Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker
A male Black-rumped Flameback, also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker  
A woodpecker or Kaththokra with its chick







The pictures of these birds above are commonly known as woodpecker (Kaththokra in Bengali) in Bangladesh. They are known as the Black-rumped Flameback, also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker, is a woodpecker which is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of South Asia.
They belong to the family Picidae, order Piciformes. The scientific name of this bird is Donopium benghalense. Carl Von Linne, a Swedish botanist and zoologist – named the scientific name of this bird in the year 1758. Due to its benghalense (0ne part of the Binomial name) name, it is thought that this specis of woodpecker is mainly native in Bangladesh region. The family Picidae have about 204 species. In Bangladesh having 22 species. Among of them 21 resident and one migratory.

This flameback is a species associated with open forest and cultivation. It nests in a tree hole, laying three white eggs. Both sexes share the parental duties.The eggs hatch after about 11 days of incubation. The chicks leave the nest after about 20 days. The breeding season varies with weather and is between February and July.They frequently drum during the breeding season.

Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl or “yoked" feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. The long tongue can be darted forward to capture insects.

The Black-rumped Flameback is a large species at 26-29 cm in length. It is a typical woodpecker shape, and has a golden yellow back, with paler wings. The rump and tail are black. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region.

This species is normally seen in pairs or small parties and sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks. They feed on insects mainly beetle larvae from under the bark, visit termite mounds and sometimes feed on nectar. They adapt well in human- modified habitats making use of artificial constructions fallen fruits and even food scraps. Its call is a loud, harsh sound ‘’klre-klre’’ uttered mostly on the wing. In fact most woodpeckers have loud voices and some are noisy. They drum with the bill, particularly during nesting season and when they have found a resonant surface.

The adult male Black-rumped Flameback has a red crown. Females have a dark forecrown, with red only on the rear half. Young birds are like the female, but duller.

Bangladesh postal department have published a postal stamp of 3.75 Taka of woodpecker bird. Even Sri Lankan postal department have a stamp of 4.50 rupee of woodpecker.

S: en.wikipedia.org; banglapedia.org; ibc.lynxeds.com; 
    Photoes from flickr.com(airfoiln)


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