Sasia ochracea Hodgson, 1837

Common Name and Size

This small piculet species, Sasia ochracea, commonly called the white-browed piculet, grows up to 10 cm (4 in) in length.

Plumage and Tail

It has olive-green upperparts with a chestnut tinge, cinnamon or rufous underparts that are sometimes yellowish on the flanks, and a stubby, blackish tail.

Head Markings

Its crown is green, with a white streak running above and directly behind the eye; the eye itself is surrounded by a ring of bare pinkish or reddish skin.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males have a small golden-yellow patch on the forehead that females do not have.

Juvenile Plumage

Juveniles are duller-colored than adults, with greener upperparts and greyer underparts.

Beak, Iris, Limbs and Toes

The beak is grey, the iris is red, and the legs are yellow or orange; unlike most members of the woodpecker family which have four toes, this species only has three toes on its feet.

Similar Species Overlap

Where their ranges overlap in southern Myanmar and southeastern Thailand, the white-browed piculet can be confused with the very similar rufous piculet (Sasia abnormis).

Distinguishing Features

It can be distinguished from the rufous piculet by the presence of the white streak above the eye and its darker beak.

Native Region

The white-browed piculet is native to tropical southeastern Asia.

Geographic Range

Its range extends from northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh through southern China to Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

Habitat

It inhabits dense wet or dry forest with abundant vines and bamboo, as well as scrub and swampy woodlands.

Altitude Range

It occurs at altitudes up to 2,600 m (8,500 ft).

Foraging Location and Behavior

The white-browed piculet forages in the understory, not far above the ground, pecking and probing with its sharp beak.

Diet

Its diet is made up of small insects including bark beetles, ants, and termites, plus spiders and other small invertebrates.

Foraging Social Behavior

It often forages in pairs, and may also join small mixed-species flocks.

Ground Movement

It sometimes descends to the ground, where it can hop for short distances.

Nest Material

This bird builds its nest using pieces of bamboo.

Nest Construction Behavior

It picks up fragments of broken bamboo with its feet, and uses its beak to pull away partially broken fragments.

Breeding Period

Breeding occurs between March and July.