• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.404-410
• /
• 2014

In this study, we conducted an analysis of the drumming bioacoustics of three woodpeckers typical to South Korea. The targeted species were, from largest to smallest in size, the Black Woodpecker(Dryocopus martius), the Great Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocopos major) and the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker(Dendrocopos Kizuki). The drumming sounds of these three species of woodpeckers were recorded and analyzed. Sound recordings were taken in the Guryongsa Valley, Chiaksan National Park and on the campus of Sangji University, Wonju City, South Korea. Drumming recordings were obtained in the following manner. As researchers walked along trails in the investigation areas, when woodpecker drumming sounds were indicated, positive identification of the species was made using binoculars then the recording of the drumming sound was started. The average time per drumming, in seconds, was Black Woodpecker(D. martius) 1.614 seconds, Great Spotted Woodpecker(D. major) 0.683 seconds and Japanese Pygmy woodpecker(D. Kizuki) 0.200 seconds. The average number of strikes for each drumming was Black Woodpecker(D. martius) 31.2 times, Great Spotted Woodpecker(D. major) 14.9 times and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker(D. Kizuki) 6.7 times. The strike speed, in strikes/sec, for each species was the Black Woodpecker(D. martius)19.3strikes/sec, the Great Spotted Woodpecker(D. major) 21.8strikes/sec and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker(D. Kizuki)33.3strikes/sec. The frequency of drumming, in Hertz, was Black Woodpecker(D. martius) 776.9Hz, Great Spotted Woodpecker (D. major) 1,213.8Hz and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker(D. Kizuki) 826.0Hz. In interpreting this data, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used and it was determined that there was a significant statistical difference between species in drumming duration, time and interval of striking. The findings support that the bigger the biomass of the woodpecker, the longer the drumming duration and striking time. However, the smaller the size of the woodpecker, the faster the strike speed. A correlation between body type size and drumming characteristics was clearly identified. As for strike frequency, measured in Hertz, the medium sized Great Spotted Woodpecker's (D. major) frequency was high whereas the Black Woodpecker(D. martius) and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker's(D. Kizuki) frequency was similar. A clear trend in reference to body size on this measure does not exist.