Woodpeckers and Relatives: Piciformes
Conservation Status
According to recent research, fifteen species (of a total of 383 species) of piciform birds are classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable, at an extremely high, very high, or high risk of extinction. Another twenty-eight species are classified as Near Threatened. Experts on the birds warn that even though fewer than 4 percent of the birds are threatened, continued loss of habitat greatly harms the ability of the birds to reproduce and live. Decreased numbers of piciformes have also occurred due to hunting and capture for pets and other human activities. In fact, collecting of some species for museums is believed to have contributed to the extinction of some of those species.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Alsop III, Fred J. Birds of North America. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2001.
Baughman, Mel M., ed. Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2003.
del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, J. Cabot, et al., eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1992.
Dickinson, Edward C., ed. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, 3rd ed. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, U.K.: Princeton University Press, 2003.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th ed. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2002.
Forshaw, Joseph, ed. Encyclopedia of Birds, 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.
Harrison, Colin James Oliver. Birds of the World. London and New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
Kaufman, Kenn, et al. Birds of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
Sibley, David. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
Additional topics
Animal Life ResourceBirdsWoodpeckers and Relatives: Piciformes - Physical Characteristics, Geographic Range, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Woodpeckers, Relatives And People - HABITAT