Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker
Yungipicus maculatus
A small woodpecker of foothill and low-elevation montane forest and more open wooded areas. White, speckled underparts reach a dotted moustache stripe on the face. Dark brown upperparts are cut by white barring on the back and white bands on the head. Male has a red mark on the back of the head. Unmistakable. No other woodpecker of a similar size occurs in its range. Voice includes a short, slightly metallic rattling trill.
Identification
The Philippine pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus maculatus), also known as the Philippine woodpecker, is a species of bird in the woodpecker family (Picidae). Its local name in Kapampangan is Anluage. It is endemic to the Philippines, found throughout the entire country except the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan. It is the smallest woodpecker in the country and is common throughout, found even in urban areas in cities.
Taxonomy
Formerly the taxon included the Sulu pygmy woodpecker (Y. ramsayi), which is now treated as distinct. These two and the Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker (Y. temminckii) appear to form a superspecies. Some taxonomic authorities continue to place this species in the genus Dendrocopos or Picoides.
- Scientific name
- Yungipicus maculatus
- Authority
- (Scopoli, 1786)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
- Genus
- Yungipicus
Range and habitat
Smallest Philippine woodpecker, sexes differ, races fall into 3 groups: group 1 validirostris, maculatus and menagei with back moderately barred with blackish brown and white, throat white with dark spots or streaks, and rest of underparts heavily streaked black and white; group 2 fulvifasciatus and leytensis with back boldly barred with black and white, throat whitish, upper breast whitish with distinct black spots and rest of underparts finely slight or no barring on upperparts, but with large white patch on lower back and rump, complete red nuchal crest in male, narrow white throat, yellow breast faintly streaked with brown, and faintly streaked brown and buff bully. The woodpecker is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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