Identification of Picus Woodpeckers

• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Picus Woodpeckers found in India

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• You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 Greater Yellow Nape Woodpecker Identification Tips Greater Yellow Nape Woodpecker : Picus flavinucha : Resident of foothills of North East & East India (Southwards to Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh) Iris is brownish-red or reddish, orbital ring grey to greenish or blue-grey Olive-green forehead and crown Long bill slightly chisel-tipped, variably curved culmen, fairly broad across Hindcrown feathers and nape bright nostrils, broad at base, dark grey golden-yellow Dark olive-green lores Bright yellow chin and throat Lower throat feathers blackish with white edges Upperparts are Yellowish Green Breast is olive -black

Legs are green-grey or grey Male

Female

Underparts are Uppertail is blackish Chin and throat are rufous-brown greenish-grey

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Grey-headed Woodpecker Identification Tips Grey-headed Woodpecker : Picus canus guerini: Resident of Himalayas ,North East & East India

Iris deep carmine-red with admixed white Red forehead and forecrown short pale grey supercilium Long, slightly chisel-tipped, rather broad-based, culmen moderately Black hindcrown and nape curved, blackish-brown to grey-black, usually with olive tinge Pale moustachial and malar Grey chin and throat stripes enclosing thin black submoustachial Dull green or greyish-green Breast Upperparts are dark green with golden tinge Breast is olive -black

Legs are olive-grey to yellowish-olive Male Entire forehead and crown pale-streaked and black

Uppertail is greenish-brown with obscure paler bars Underparts are Female greenish-grey Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker Identification Tips Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker : Picus chlorolophus : Resident of Himalayas , North East and Hills of Peninsular India

long bill almost straight, chisel-tipped, Iris red-brown to dark red, orbital skin greyish broad across nostrils, blackish-grey, Green forehead and crown bordered with red paler, yellower base of lower feather tips mandible olive-green ear-coverts Olive to greyish chin and throat variably marked with white streaks or bars Red malar stripe Golden-yellow or orangey on crest Upperparts are green tinged Breast is grey-green golden-yellow to dark green barred whitish Outer webs of secondaries and of inner Legs are grey-green primaries rufous

Male Has red of crown confined to small patch at rear sides

Lacks red Female Underparts are off-white in malar with slightly diffuse olive to olive-grey or brownish- olive chevrons Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Scaly-bellied Woodpecker Identification Tips Scaly-bellied Woodpecker : Picus squamatus : Resident of West and Central Himalayas Iris pinkish-red, paler outer ring Long bill slightly chisel-tipped, broad Red forehead, crown and nape across nostrils, pale horn-yellow to White supercilium from above eye to side of nape yellowish-grey, with darker tip Cheeks and ear-coverts are olive-grey, greener or Olive chin & throat yellower Black Malar stripe Upperparts are Green streaked whitish

Breast is olive variably grey-tinged

Male Legs are greenish-grey to olive

Has forehead to nape black with grey streaks

Lower breast and belly Female greyish-white, tinged greenish, with strong scaly appearance Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Streak-throated Woodpecker Identification Tips Streak-throated Woodpecker : Picus xanthopygaeus : Resident of North, Central, East, North East & peninsular India and lower foothills of Himalayas.

Iris white or pale pinkish, darker outer area Long bill, chisel-tipped, slightly curved Red forehead to hindcrown and crest culmen, dark brown or grey-brown, White supercilium from above eye to side of nape dull yellow base of lower mandible Greyish ear-coverts streaked brownish Whitish chin and throat with fine dark brown or olive streaks White cheek stripe Black Malar stripe streaked whitish Breast is whitish to pale buff- Upperparts are Green white below, tinged green with scaly pattern,

Legs are Grey-green Male

Has forehead to nape black with greyish streaking

Female Whitish undertail-coverts with dark arrowhead patterned scales