Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Iberian Green Woodpecker is estimated to be undergoing a moderately rapid decline in Spain, which holds the vast majority of the population. The rate of this decline may have reduced slightly, but following a revision to the species's generation length the rate of this decline does not approach the thresholds for listing as threatened, and would not have done so previously. As a result, the species has been reassessed as Least Concern, as a change based on revised species information.
Population justification
The total population is estimated at 244,000-468,000 pairs, which equates to 488,000-936,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.).
Trend justification
The population size is estimated to be decreasing at a rate of 16% in 10 years (SEO/BirdLife 2019, BirdLife International in prep.), with a revised trend period as generation length is now estimated at 2.7 years from the methods of Bird et al. (2020).
The species is endemic to Spain, Portugal, Andorra and extreme south-west France, where it is found irregularly from Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Hérault (del Hoyo et al. 2020). Spain holds over 90% of the global population with the most recent estimate for the Spanish population at c. 234,000-417,000 pairs (BirdLife International in prep.). The population in Portugal is believed to be between 10,000 and 50,000 pairs, while the small French population is believed to be between 150 and 2,000 pairs (BirdLife International in prep.). In Spain, monitoring data indicates a population reduction of 31% between 1998-2018 (SEO/BirdLife 2019), equivalent to a 16% decline over the past ten year period.
This species is found in relatively dry open woodland, both deciduous and mixed, as well as plantations, orchards, farmland and pastures, parks and gardens and locally in grassy dunes. It requires some mature trees and clearings with adjacent grassland and is found in the lowlands and hills to mountains up to ca. 3,000 m. It lays from the end of March to June. Both parents incubate the clutch which is usually five to eight eggs. The nest is excavated at up to 10 m in a tree (del Hoyo et al. 2020). It feeds on ground-dwelling ants. Other insects are taken on the ground or in trees and occasionally fruit is taken too (Gorman 2014). The species is resident, with some local movements outside the breeding season (del Hoyo et al. 2020).
No serious threats have been identified for this species. Habitat loss is not yet a great problem, but it is believed that in future years it could become so (del Hoyo et al. 2020). It is thought the intensification of agriculture and forestry, as well as the conversion of pasture to arable land can affect populations of this species by reducing the population of ants. The clearing of wooded hedgerows, copses, isolated groves and riverine woodland can limit potential nesting sites. Wildfires may have caused a decrease in the populations in Mediterranean regions. Other threats include localized illegal hunting and very cold winters (Martí and del Moral 2004).
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. There are no known current conservation measures for this species.
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Habitat management for this species should include the conservation of old trees for nesting in woodlands, orchards and villages and the maintenance and restoration of feeding grounds such as small meadows, pastures, orchards and heaths (Tucker and Heath 1994). Monitoring and research are needed to inform future conservation measures.
31-33 cm woodpecker. Upperparts green, rump and uppertail coverts yellowish. Male has red forehead to nape, lores blackish becoming grey in superciliary and subocular areas and side of crown (del Hoyo et al. 2020). Female has all black malar stripe and often more obvious pale edge above, crown with more grey tips. Medium-length bill, dark grey or blackish, slightly chisel-tipped. Iris white to pinkish. Legs olive-grey. Juvenile duller than adult. Similar spp. Differs from Eurasian Green Woodpecker P. viridis by having very little or no black on face and having a browner iris compared to whiter iris in P. viridis. Differs from Maghreb Green Woodpecker P. vaillantii in red vs. black malar stripe on male. Voice Main call a low "kyack" and variations. Distinctive laughing song in breeding season.
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Fernando, E., Wheatley, H.
Contributors
Ashpole, J, Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., López-Jiménez, N., Olioso, G., Pople, R., Staneva, A. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpei. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/iberian-green-woodpecker-picus-sharpei on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.