- Dendrocopos nanus
Identification
- Brown and white barring on upperparts
- Streaked white underparts
- Spotted white tail
- Pink-rimmed white irises
- Pale brown crown (edged with red in males)
- Pale brown eyestripe
- White supercilium and cheek
Similar Species
A little smaller than a Red-vented Bulbul and bigger than a Purple-rumped Sunbird.
Distribution
Found on the Indian Subcontinent and Sri Lanka.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies recognized[1]:
- D.n. nanus in northern and central India
- D.n. cinereigula in southern India
- D.n. gymnopthalmos in Sri Lanka
It was formerly considered conspecific with Sunda Woodpecker.
Placed in genus Yungipicus by Gill and Donsker.
Habitat
Paddy fields, mangroves, coastal scrub, plantations, parks and gardens, open woodland.
Behaviour
Breeding
Both sexes excavate a hole about 15-30cm long in a dead tree.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 30 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown-capped_Pygmy_Woodpecker