Rufous Piculet - BirdForum Opus

Sasia abnormis

Photo by Dave B
Location: Malaysia

Identification

Size-3.5inches
A tiny bird with a short bill and distinctive short tail. Upper parts bright olive-geen contrasting with orange rufous under parts (diagnostic). Orbital skin pinkish.
Male: Yellow patch on forehead.
Female: Rufous forehead.

Distribution

Photo by Dave B
Location: Malaysia

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Fairly common in its range.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized:^[1]

• S.a. abnormis - mainland range
• S.a. magnirostris - Nias Island, northwest Sumatra

Habitat

Subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests.
Occurs in lowlands and hills up to 800m, up to 1370 in the Malay Peninsula.

Behaviour

Solitary (usually) and unobtrusive. Found in the middle and lower story of the canopy. While foraging taps softly on wood.
Feeds on ants, their larvae, small bark beetles and other insects.
Breeding season from May to August, from February in Borneo. The nest is excavated low in a dead branch, sapling or bamboo stem. Lays 2 eggs.
A resident species.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334375
3. Avibase

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rufous Piculet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous_Piculet

External Links

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