Great Spotted Woodpecker
Main Characteristics of Piciformes
- There are 355 species of piciformes.
- They're categorized into nine families: toucans, toucan-barbets, New World barbets, African barbets, Asian barbets, honeyguides, woodpeckers, puffbirds and jacamars.
- The most well-known are the toucan and the great spotted woodpecker.
- Generally, these birds are small, featuring short necks, round heads, and short legs.
- They're primarily carnivorous or frugivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, or honey.
- Piciformes spend most of their time in trees.
- Some of these birds have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, making it easier for them to support themselves while climbing trees.
- Their tails are shaped like a spatula or a fan, acting as a third leg to support them while holding tight onto branches.
- The largest species are the toco toucan and the imperial woodpecker, reaching lengths of up to 24 inches (62 cm).
- The smallest is the rufous piculet, measuring only 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) in length and averaging 0.3 ounces (9.2 grams) in weight.
