Picus awokera
The Japanese Green Woodpecker (Picus awokera), known as 'Aogera' in Japanese, is a medium-sized woodpecker endemic to the Japanese archipelago, renowned for its vibrant emerald-green plumage. Males sport a striking red crown and nape, often complemented by a black moustachial stripe, while females typically have a black crown with a red nape, lacking the moustachial stripe, showcasing moderate sexual dimorphism. Measuring approximately 29-30 cm (11.4-11.8 inches) in length with a wingspan of ...
Found in deciduous, evergreen, and mixed forests, as well as parks and large gardens, typically from lowlands up to montane regions.
Primarily myrmecophagous, feeding extensively on ants and their larvae, excavated from the ground or decaying wood, supplemented by other insects and occasionally fruit.
This diurnal woodpecker is most active during the day, spending nights roosting in tree cavities or dense foliage. Its foraging strategy is distinct, often involving extensive ground-level probing for ants, which it extracts using its long, sticky tongue, but it also scales tree trunks for wood-b...
The Japanese Green Woodpecker is strictly endemic to Japan, where it is a widespread resident throughout the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, as well as several smaller surrounding islands. Its distribution spans from the northern tip of Honshu southwards to Kyushu. Three recognized s...
Least Concern
- The Japanese name 'Aogera' (アオゲラ) literally translates to 'blue woodpecker,' despite its predominantly green plumage, reflecting historical color classifications in Japanese. - Unlike many woodpeckers that primarily forage on trees, the Japanese Green Woodpecker spends a significant amount of t...