Black-headed Woodpecker

Overview

The black-headed woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) is a medium-sized bird species in the family Picidae. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, though populations are currently decreasing due to habitat destruction.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird, approximately 33 cm in length and weighing between 100–135 g.
• Distinct plumage featuring a black face, yellow throat, green wings, red lower back, and white stomach.
• Males possess a red crown, whereas females have a completely black crown; some individuals display a thin white line extending from the eye to the neck.
• Song consists of a loud series of rapidly repeated yelps, described as 'ka-tek-a-tek' or 'cha-cha-cha', which sound similar to laughing.

Habitat

Found across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, this species typically inhabits deciduous and coniferous forests. It prefers dry dipterocarp, semi-evergreen, riverine, and savanna forests, usually foraging in the mid-story and sub-canopy layers.

Diet

As an insectivore, it gleans insects from the bark of trees, most commonly consuming termites. It also feeds on ants and other invertebrates.

Did you know?

This species frequently joins mixed-species flocks, or 'bird waves', with white-crested laughingthrushes and drongos to increase foraging efficiency and reduce predation risk.