Saturday, July 27, 2013

Y is for YAFFLE

The European Green Woodpecker is known as the YAFFLE because of its immitative laugh-like call.


This bird is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae.  There are four subspecies and it occurs in most parts of Europe and in western Asia.  All have green upperparts, paler yellowish underparts, a red crown and moustachial stripe which has a red centre in males but is all black in females.


The Yaffle spends much of its time feeding on ants on the ground and does not often 'drum' on trees like other woodpecker species.  It is a shy bird but usually draws attention with its loud calls.  A nest hole is excavated in a tree; four to six eggs are laid which hatch after 19-20 days.
This hole is larger but similar to those of other woodpeckers.  The eggs are incubated by both parents taking shifts of between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.  The chicks are naked and altricial at hatching and fledge after 21-24 days.

Although this bird is shy and wary, it is usually its loud calls, known as "yaffling" which first draw atttention to its presence.  It 'drums' rarely (a soft, fast roll) but often gives a noisy 'kyu-kyu-kyuck' while flying.  The song is a loud series of 10-18 'klu' sounds which gets slightly faster towards the end and falls slightly in pitch.  The female makes a thinner "pu-pu-pu-pu-pu-pu".  The flight is undulating with 3-4 wingbeats followed by a short glide when the wings are held by the body.




8 comments:

  1. Thank you for introducing the word, Yaffle, into my vocabulary. For 63 years I have been in need of a word I could say instead of anything else. Although we don't have this beautiful bird in my part of the world, its name is something satisfying that I can utter between strong positive and negative emotions, when things are going just fine. Yaffle. I like it!

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    1. I felt the same way when I discovered the word. I can imagine addding it to my vocabulary as well. Very appropriate in all types of situations.
      Great to have you pop in again Geo.

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  2. It eats ants? Where can I get me a crew of thoe?

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    1. We could do with some as well, especially during the summer months when those pesky ants make little sandhills between the slabs outside.

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  3. What a lovely bird and great information too. Thanks for stopping by my blog, it was visiting yours.

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    1. Thanks Denise....I did an A-Z series of animals and this has been an A-Z of birds. I find great delight in learning about various flora and fauna of the world. Thank you too for paying me a visit. Much appreciated (and for leaving a comment as so few people bother doing so). : )

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  4. Interesting bird. You must have a great number of birds to choose from, living where you do.
    Thank you for visiting my blog. It is my pleasure to meet you.
    Manzanita
    Wanna buy a duck

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    1. I have so enjoyed doing the animal series and now the birds series. Not all the birds I've chosen have been from Australia as I also enjoy finding out about flora and fauna of of other parts of our wonderful world.
      I enjoyed meeting you as well and thank you for your visit and your comment.
      I'd love to buy a duck but have nowhere to keep it so you look after it for me. lol

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