2008 CANADA 25 CENT DOWNEY WOODPECKER NEW COLORED... Theme:... WOODCHOPPER IN THE TREE... Dat-dat-dat-dat!... It's one of the most distinctive sounds in the forest... Most who hear it feel compelled to find the... woodpecker hammering away at a branch to extract... a juicy meal with its long...
2008 CANADA 25 CENT DOWNEY WOODPECKER NEW COLORED
Theme:
WOODCHOPPER IN THE TREE
Dat-dat-dat-dat!
It's one of the most distinctive sounds in the forest.
Most who hear it feel compelled to find the
woodpecker hammering away at a branch to extract
a juicy meal with its long pointed tongue—perhaps
a small insect or larva under the bark of a rotting
tree.
Of the 13 woodpecker species living year-round in
Canada, the Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
is the smallest and most familiar. At just 14-17 cm
(6-7 in), it can excavate a nest cavity in a dead tree
just 10 cm (4 in) around. This gives the Downy
more habitat options than larger woodpeckers that
need bigger trees, and it often nests in suburban
woods across southern Canada.
The Downy can survive a life-time of hammering
because its strong, chisel-shaped beak, spongy skull
structure and strong neck muscles absorb the force
of the blows. Even its nostrils are covered with
feathers to avoid inhaling sawdust. Watch for a
flash of red on the back of the head when you
locate that tell-tale dat-dat-dat —it's a sure sign that
a male Downy has just come into view.
Face Value: 25 cents
Mintage: 25,000
Composition: Nickel plated steel
Weight (g): 12.61
Diameter (mm): 35
Edge: Plain
Finish: Specimen
Artist: Arnold Nogy
Special features:
�� Beautiful full-colour painted design of one of
thirteen of Canada’s species of woodpeckers.
�� This theme is featured in the Canadian Wildlife
Federation’s ‘wildly’ popular Hinterland Who’s
Who program.
Packaging:
Coin encapsulated and presented in a maroon clamshell
case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve.
