Showing posts with label piciformes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piciformes. Show all posts

Friday, 16 January 2026

Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Ramphastos ("snouted") ambiguus ("wandering")

Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: "Chestnut Mandibled Toucan" - Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii
Weight: 584-746g  /  Length: 47-61cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The largest of Costa Rica's Toucans and one of the largest species of thefamily overall, they are primarily fructivores supplemented by small animals. They are inhabitants of lowland forests, and even human altered habitat like plantations, parks and gardens where the tree density is high enough. They are considered near threatened due to habitat loss and poaching.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Ramphastos
SUBSPECIES: R. a. swainsonii, R. a. ambiguuus, R. a. abbreviatus 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tucán de Pecho Amarillo ("Yellow-chested Toucan")
A widespread inhabitant of wet lowland forests
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)


OTHER NAMES: Rainbow-billed Toucan, Sulphur-breasted Toucan

Latin Etymology: Ramphastos ("snouted") sulfuratus ("sulphur coloured")

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: Ramphastos sulfuratus brevicarinatus
Weight: 380-500g  /  Length: 42-55cm  /  Wingspan: 109-153cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Perhaps behind only the Toco Toucan the Keel-billed Toucan is an iconic member of that family. Their huge bill comproises a third of their length and is used as a versatile tool for feeding on anything from reptiles, invertibrates, eggs and fruit. They are a social species, usually living in small flocks which roost together in a single hole in a tree. They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Ramphastos
SUBSPECIES: R. s. brevicarinatus, R. s. sulfuratus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tucán Piquiverde ("Green-beaked Toucan")
A widespread but uncommon species
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Thursday, 8 January 2026

Blue-throated Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Emerald Toucanet
Latin Etymology: Aulacorhynchus ("groove beak") caeruleogularis ("cerulean throated")

Blue-throated Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis maxillaris
Weight: 120-185g  /  Length: 29-37cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An endearingly plump toucanet of the mountains of Central America, its cute exterior actually hides a somewhat dark secret - part of their diet consists of eggs and particularly their nest raiding of resplendant quetzals surpresses breeding of that species. Their taxonomy is unresolved, with it either being treated as the species as presented here, or part of a wider species named the Northern Emerald Toucanet which itself was split from the now Southern Emerald Toucanet.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Caeruleogularis
SUBSPECIES: A. c. caeruleogularis, A. c. cognatus 
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Tucanete Gorjiazul
Found in Talamancan Montane Forest
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Saturday, 20 December 2025

Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pteroglossus ("feather tongue") frantzii (for naturalised Alexander von Frantzius)

Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 225-280g  /  Length: 45cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small, social species of toucan endemic to the Pacific slope region in Costa Rica and Panama in wet forests. As seen in the photo here, their diet is largely fruit based which they travel for in small flocks, sometimes in the company of other toucan species. Their range has a small overlap with the closely related Collared Aracari not far North of of where I saw this species.

Related Species: 

Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Pteroglossus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Arasarí piquinaranja ("Orange-pepper Aracari")

Found in Pacific Coast Lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: A flock seen at Tarcoles

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Sunday, 7 December 2025

Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melanerpes ("black creeper") rubricapillus ("red-haired")  

Male Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Melanerpes rubricapillus rubricapillus
Weight: 40-65g  /  Length: 16-18.5cm  /  Wingspan: cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A bird seen right on the very brink of it's range, in Costa Rica being found on the West coast as far as Tarcoles where I saw it.  A more generalist woodpecker species which takes fruit as well as insects found on the surface but with a lesser focus on the namesake wood pecking than many other species. In Costa Rica it has a hybrid zone with Hoffman's Woodpecker to which it is closely related.  

Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
SUBSPECIES: M. r. rubricapillus, M. r. subfusculus, M. r. seductus, M. r. parauanae
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Carpintero Habado

Common species on West Coast up to Tarcoles
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Saturday, 6 December 2025

Hoffmann's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melanerpes ("black creeper") hoffmannii (for naturalist Karl Hoffman)

Hoffmann's Woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmannii) at Hotel Robledal, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 62-84g  /  Length: 18-21cm  /  Wingspan: 40-43cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly range restricted species found in a narrow band of North West Costa Rica, West Nicaragua and Southern Honduras where it prefers more open forests and even more disturbed areas like parks and gardens. They are a close relative of the Red-crowned woodepecker and a hybrid zone between the two exists in Costa Rica where the species overlap.
 

Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Carpintero de Hoffman ("Hoffman's Carpenter")

A locally common species in North West Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Hotel Robledal and Tarcoles

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Friday, 5 December 2025

Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dryocopus ("tree beating") lineatus ("lined")

Male Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) at Hotel Robledal, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: Dryocopus lineatus lineatus
Weight: 126-264g/kg  /  Length: 31-36cm  /  Wingspan: 49-58cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large, powerfully built woodpecker, the equivalent and closest relation to the Black Woodpecker of Europe and the Pileated of North America, filling a similar niche. They use their bills to excavate large holes in trees in their search for insect prey and can be detected by their drumming on trees.  The male and female differ in appearance in that the female lacks the red patch below the bill.

Related Species: 
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryobates
SUBSPECIES: D. l. capularis, D, l, similis, D. l. lineatus, D. l. fuscipenns, D. l. erythrops


 - Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Picamaderos listado ("List Woodcutter")

A common resident
 - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Hotel Robledal


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dendrocoptes ("tree striking") leucotos ("white backed") 

Adult  male White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)  near Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: Dendrocopos leucotos lilifordi
Weight: 100-115g  /  Length: 25-28cm  /  Wingspan: 38-40cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species of woodpecker that ranges from Europe to Japan, but is generally scarc within its range as it requires large areas of forest including good amounts of standing deadwood.  In Europe particularly as a result its range is extremely fragmented. They are similar to other black and white woodpeckers but have a barred underside combined with a more spotty back than other species of similar size.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dendrocopos
SUBSPECIES: D. l. leucotos, D. l. uralensis, D. l. lilfordi, D. l. tangi, D. l. subcirris, D. l. stejnegeri, D. l. namiyei, D. l. takahashii, D. l. quelpartensis, D. l. owstoni, D. l. fohkiensis, D. l. insularis


 - Sighting Locations -

TURKEY  - Aksırtlı ağaçkakan ("Sneezing woodpecker")

 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - One bird in the mountains near Side.

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Middle spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dendrocoptes ("tree striking") medius ("medium") 

Adult  Middle spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) at Vienna, Austria - October 2024


Featured Subspecies: Dendrocoptes medius medius
Weight: 50-85g  /  Length: 19-22cm  /  Wingspan: 33-34cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, the middle spotted woodpecker is intermediate in size between the lesser and greater spotted woodpecker, though ironically not in the same genus as either. Their range is limited to Europe, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, but is absent from the UK and most of Scandinavia as it is largely sedentary. 

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dendrocoptes

SUBSPECIES: D. m. medius, D. m. caucasicus, D. m. anatoliae, D. m. sanctijohannis

 - Sighting Locations -

AUSTRIA - Austrian: Leiopicus medius - "Middle Woodpecker"
Widespread breeding resident in Eastern Austria
 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna 


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Friday, 30 August 2024

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sphyrapicus ("hammer woodpecker") varius ("varigatated")

Fledgeling Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota - July 2024


Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 50g  /  Length: 19-21cm  /  Wingspan: 34-40cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, sapsuckers are a notable for their feeding on sap of trees, which they do by pecking a series of holes in a straight line to tap into the xylem and phloem. They however do also eat invertibrates, nuts and fruit. Due to this feeding technique they sometimes end up killing the tree by functionally robbing it of it's ability to send nutrients above the circle they have drilled.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Sphyrapicus

SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Found across Canda from Atlantic Coast to Alaskan Border.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta.

UNITED STATES - Localised primarily to Great Lakes and New England as a breeding bird, Winters in the South-East Lower 48.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Thursday, 29 August 2024

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melanerpes Melanerpes ("black creeper") carolinus (of Carolina)

Adult male Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) at McKee Marsh, Illinois - August 2024


Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 57-91gg  /  Length: 23-27cm  /  Wingspan: 38-46cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A near endemic of the Continental US whose name is accurate but perhaps oddly chosen as though they do have a reddish belly, this isn't an easy field mark to actually get a decent view of at most angles. A fairly typical woodpecker behaviourally, they nest in tree hollows and feed primarily on invertibrates, and favours deadwood for searching for them.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 


 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present throughout most of the Eastern states of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at McKee Marshes, Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

OTHER NAMES: Common Flicker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Clape, Gaffer Woodpecker, Harry-wicket, Heigh-ho, Wake-up, Walk-up, Wick-up, Yarrup, Gawker Bird
Latin Etymology: Colaptes ("chiseller") auratus ("gilded")

Adult female Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) at Fort Peck, Montana, USA - July 2024


Featured Subspecies: Colaptes auratus luteus
Weight: 86-167g  /  Length: 28-36cm  /  Wingspan: 42-54cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and widespread woodpeckers in North America and are something of an analogue to Green Woodpeckers in the UK in that they are a larger species that significantly feeds on the ground and has a large proportion of their diet consisting of ants. As with most woodpeckers, they are cavity nesters and have adapted well to human encroachment and can be found in parks and gardens.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Colaptes
SUBSPECIES: C. a. auratus, C. a. luteus, C. a. chrysocaulosus, C. a. gundlachi, C. a. cafer, C. a. collaris, C. a. nanus, C. a. mexicanus, C. a. mexicanoides


 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present throughout the entire Lower 48 plus central Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Minnesota and Montana


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melanerpes ("black creeper") formicivorus ("ant eating")

Adult male Acorn Woodpecker (subspecies M. f. bairdi) at Roy's Redwoods, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi
Weight: 65-90g  /  Length: 19-23cm  /  Wingspan: 35-43cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A distinctive woodpecker species localised in the US to the South West, the acorn woodpecker is most known for its distinctive feeding strategy of creating "granary trees" essentially excavating small holes in trees or non living wood such as utility poles, and wedging in potentially thousands of acorns in a single granary, which is used from year to year. Perhaps even more perculiarly, acorn woodpeckers actually primarily feed on insects, sap and fruit, with the acorns functioning more as an emergency larder.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
SUBSPECIES: M. f. bairdi, M. f. angustifrons, M. f. formicivorus, M. f. albeolus, M. f. lineatus, M. f. striatipectus, M. f. flavigula

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in the South West of the Lower 48 
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Roy's Redwoods and Berkeley,

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dryobates ("woodland walker") pubescens ("downy/pubescent")

Adult female Downy Woodpecker (subspecies D. p.. turati) at San Francisco, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Dryobates pubescens turati
Weight: 21-28g  /  Length: 14-18cm  /  Wingspan: 25-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest woodpecker in North America, despite the similar plumage and theming of name, it is not closely related to the Hairy Woodpecker which shares much of its range. The best way to distinguish them when good views are had is that the downy has a tiny needle like bill compared to the hairy's more iconically large woodpecker chisel.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryobates
SUBSPECIES: D. p. glacialis, D. p.. medianus, D. p. fumidus, D. p. gairdnerii, D. p. turati, D. p. leucurus, D. p. pubescens

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Found over most of the Lower 48 and Southern Alaska
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose and San Francisco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)


OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Leuconotopicus ("white back woodpecker") villosus ("hairy")

 Adult male Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) at Charlie Lake, British Columbia, Canada - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Probably Leuconotopicus villosus septentrionalis
Weight: 40-5g  /  Length: 18-26cm  /  Wingspan: 33-43cm
 UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and recognisable woodpeckers of North America, the Hairy Woodpecker has a vast range covering pretty much all of North America that isn't desert or tundra. It has a large number of subspecies across its range which spans from Alaska to Panama. A common visitor to bird tables, despite it's similarity in plumage to the Downy Woodpecker, the two are not actually closely related.


Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
SUBSPECIES: L. v. septentrionalis, L. v. picoideus, L. v. harrisi, L. v. terraenovae, L. v. villosus, L. v. orius, L. v. monticola, L. v. leucothorectis, L. v. audubonii, L. v. hyloscopus, L. v. icastus, L. v. intermedius, L. v. jardinii, L. v. sanctorum, L. v. extimus, L. v. piger, L. v. maynardi


 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present everywhere but the High Tundra
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in British Columbia

UNITED STATES 
Seen throughout the continental USA
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Monday, 17 October 2022

Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dryobates ("woodland walker") nuttallii (named for naturalist Thomas Nuttall)

Male Species (Dryobates nuttallii)  at San Francisco, California September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 30-45g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 33-41cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species almost entirely endemic to California, though their range just tips over into Mexico in the South. They prefer oak woodlands although depending on availability of habitat they may also be found in other areas.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryobates
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 


 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Near endemic to California
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Monday, 3 May 2021

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Wryneck, Wryneck
Latin Etymology: Jynx (derived from Ancient Greek name for species) torquilla ("to twist")

Adult Eurasian Wryneck (subspecies 
J. t. torquilla) at Borough Hill, Daventry - May 2021

Featured Subspecies: Jynx torquilla torquilla
Weight: 30-45g  /  Length: 16-17cm  /  Wingspan: 25-27cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Arguably the most cryptic regular species to be found in the UK, the Eurasian Wryneck is, despite appearances, a species of specialised woodpecker, adapted for feeding on ants on the ground. They were formerly a fairly widespread breeder, but are considered extinct in the UK in that capacity, although still seen on passage anually, with sporafic breeding attempts. Their names comes from the unusal twisting motion of the neck when startled.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Jynx
SUBSPECIES: J. t. torquilla, J. t. tschusii, J. t. mauretanica, J. t. himalayana 

 - Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A former breeding Summer migrant, now an occasional breeder and passage migrant
 - A bird on passage seen at Borough Hill, Daventry in May 2021.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
.

Sunday, 7 April 2019

Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Micropternus ("small heel") brachyurus ("short tailed")
Adult Rufous Woodpecker (subspecies M. b. squagmigularis) at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Micropternus brachyurus squagmigularis
Weight: 55-114g  /  Length: 21-25cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While my preference for this website is generally to have a photograph which clearly identifies the species in question, sometimes I must admit I must be a little more creative.  In this case, I had been been a Lower Pierce Reservoir, and could hear what was distinctively a woodpecker call from the forest opposite the boardwalk where I was standing.  Eventually, I caught it flying over and snapped this shot of it in typical woodpecker flight.  A bit of detective work later - there are eight species of woodpecker recorded in Singapore, two of which are the ruddy-brown shown in this picture.  To differentiate between them, it was then a matter of listening to the call recordings on Xeno-canto to see which one matched what I'd heard.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Micropternus
SUBSPECIES: M .b. humei, M. b. jerdonii, M. b. phaioceps, M. b. squagmigularis, M. b. brachyurus, M. b. badiosus, M. b. fokiensis, M. b. holroydi, M. b. annamensis 

 - Sighting Locations -
SINGAPORE - A scarce resident
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen around Lower Pierce Reservoir and surrounding area

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Saturday, 30 March 2019

Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Psilopogon ("bare beard") lineatus ("marked with lines")
Adult Lineated Barbet (unknown subspecies ) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Unknown - introduced population
Weight: 115-205g  /  Length: 27-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A far more substantial bird than the more common Coppersmith Barbet - the Lineated barbet is an introduced species in Singapore, but is apparently getting more established in forested areas.  Barbets as a family are largely frugivores.  Like their relatives the woodpeckers, they are cavity dwellers which they excavate in trees.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Megalaimidae
Genus: Psilopogon
SUBSPECIES: P. l. hodgoni, P. l. lineatus

 - Sighting Locations -
SINGAPORE - An uncommon introduced resident
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .