Habitat of White-bellied Woodpeckers near Gwangneung Royal Tomb

The white-bellied woodpecker, known in Korean as keunaksae, is a member of the woodpecker family whose range on earth is confined to the central Korean peninsula, and it is now an endangered species. Males and females are similar in size, both about 46 cm in body length, and the male has crimson feathers on the crown of its head. In North Korea it is called keullaksae, and around Gwangneung it is also known as kollaksae. The woodpecker's habitat at Gwangneung spans five townships: Soheul-myeon and Naechon-myeon in Pocheon County, and Jinjeop-eup, Byeollae-myeon and Jadun-myeon in Namyangju, all within Gyeonggi Province. Gwangneung Royal Tomb is the burial place of King Sejo (r. 1455–1468), the seventh king of Joseon, and his queen, Lady Yun; the forest surrounding the tomb was strictly protected for more than 460 years throughout the Joseon period, allowing a dense forest to survive in which the woodpecker could nest and live. Although the area has changed considerably since the Korean War, more than 790 species of native plants are known to grow here, and large, old trees over 200 years old still stand, making this forest the woodpecker's principal habitat. The white-bellied woodpecker is itself a rare bird found only in Korea and is of great scholarly value; it is also significant as living evidence that Korea and Japan were once connected to the continent. For these reasons the area where the woodpecker lives has been designated and protected as a natural monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namyangju, Gyeonggi

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물