Picidae (Woodpeckers, Piculets, & Wrynecks)
Ochre-collared Piculet
(Photo: Arthur Grosset)
Woodpeckers
are small, medium and medium-large sized, for the most part, arboreal
birds, generally recognizable by their physiology and habits. Typically, woodpeckers have chisel-like bills
that are used primarily for excavating nest and roost holes in trees and
other suitable plant material. They also have zygodactylous toes
(2 pointing forward, 2 pointing backward) and stiff rectrices (tail feathers). These
qualities allow them to traverse vertically.
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