The is a
woodpecker endemic to the
Okinawa Prefecture of
Japan. It was previously placed in the
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...
genus ''Sapheopipo''.
Other
common names for this species are Noguchi's woodpecker, Okinawan woodpecker, Pryer's woodpecker and Ryukyu woodpecker. Some taxonomic authorities place this species in the monotypic genus ''Sapheopipo''.
Description
This is a medium-sized (31 cm), dark woodpecker. It is dark brown in color with red-tipped
feathers. It has white spots on the primaries. The head is a paler brown, with a dark red crown on the male and a blackish-brown one on the female. The call is a sharp whit call and a variable ''kyu-kyu kup kup kup'' or ''kyu kyu kup''.
Their breeding habitat is subtropical, evergreen broad-leaved forest that is at least 30 years old, with tall trees of more than 20 cm in diameter. Nesting is between late February and May.
This woodpecker is critically
endangered. It has a single tiny, declining population which is threatened by habitat loss of mature forest due to
logging,
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
construction,
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
,
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
and
golf course
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". ...
developments. A major problem now is that one of their main habitats is being destroyed. The current population is estimated at less than 600. This species is suspected to be declining at a rate of 10-19% over ten years, as a result of ongoing clearance of old-growth forests.
This woodpecker is legally protected in Japan. It occurs in Yonaha-dake Prefecture Protection Area and small protected areas on
Mount Ibu and Mount Nishime and conservation organisations have purchased sites where it occurs, but it is mainly found in the
Okinawa Prefecture. In 1996, Yambaru was designated as a national park.
Threats to the species
The habitat of the Okinawa woodpecker is threatened by the construction of six new American
helipads located about 9.5 km Southwest of the
Yanbaru forest of Takae. The lives of the birds themselves are also put at risk by the flights of
V-22 Ospreys over the island.
References
External links
BirdLife Species Factsheet
*
Okinawa woodpecker
Okinawa woodpecker
Endemic fauna of the Ryukyu Islands
Endemic birds of Japan
Okinawa woodpecker
Okinawa woodpecker
Okinawa woodpecker
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