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Overview
Japanese green woodpecker

Japanese green woodpecker

Wikipedia

Japanese green woodpecker or Japanese woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker similar and closely related to the European green woodpecker, but endemic to Japan.

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Distribution

Region

East Asia

Typical Environment

Endemic to Japan, occurring mainly on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu with local presence on nearby islands. It occupies mature broadleaf and mixed forests, forest edges, temple groves, parks, and well-wooded suburban areas. The species favors areas with old or decaying trees suitable for cavity excavation. It forages both on the ground and on trunks, often around ant-rich clearings and fallen logs.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size29–31 cm
Wing Span45–50 cm
Male Weight0.16 kg
Female Weight0.15 kg
Life Expectancy9 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also known as the aogera in Japan, this species is closely related to the European green woodpecker. It specializes in feeding on ants using a long, sticky tongue and strong, chisel-like bill. Its laughing, ringing calls carry through forests, and it relies on mature trees for nesting cavities.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

undulating flight with rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically seen singly or in pairs, forming monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Nests are excavated in dead or decaying trunks or large limbs; both sexes participate in excavation. Clutches usually contain 4–6 eggs, with both parents incubating and feeding the chicks.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Gives a ringing, laughing series of calls reminiscent of the European green woodpecker’s ‘yaffle’. Also drums on resonant wood, though less frequently than some other woodpeckers.

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