Picus erythropygius (D.G.Elliot, 1865)

Taxonomy

Scientific name: Picus erythropygius (D.G.Elliot, 1865).

Size

The black-headed woodpecker is a medium-sized bird, reaching roughly 33 cm in height and weighing 100 to 135 grams.

Adult Plumage

Adult individuals have highly distinct plumage: a black face, yellow throat, green wings, red lower back, and white stomach.

Head Features

They have white or yellow eyes, and some individuals have a thin white line running from the eye to the neck.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males have a red crown, while females have a fully black crown with no red coloring.

Juvenile Traits

Juveniles are less pigmented than adults, and juvenile males have fewer red feathers on their crown.

Geographic Range

Black-headed woodpeckers are distributed across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Habitat

They are most often found in the mid-story and sub-canopy of deciduous and coniferous forests, and typically prefer dry dipterocarp forests, semi-evergreen forests, riverine forests, and savanna forests.

Movement Pattern

They are resident non-migratory birds.

Reproduction Overview

Little is known about this species' reproduction.

Breeding Characteristics

They breed between February and June, nest inside trees, and lay around 3 to 4 eggs per clutch.

Nest Observation

Nests of this species were observed to be occupied in May in a wildlife sanctuary located in Chiang Mai.