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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Genus: Leuconotopicus

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

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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

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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

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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 .

Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense)

OTHER NAMES: Common Goldenback
Latin Etymology: Dinopium ("mighty appearance") javanense ("Javan")

Adult male Common Flameback (subspecies D. j. javanense) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Dinopium javanense javanense
Weight: 67-100g  /  Length: 28-32cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While the picus family of woodpeckers are defined by their green backs, the dinopium woodpeckers have brilliant golden plumage on their back, that gives them their name.  The Common Flameback is probably the most widely distributed of the family, and one of the most common woodpeckers in the region.  This showy individual was seen in the Mangroves of Sungei Buloh, exploring a tree trunk.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dinopium
SUBSPECIES: D. j. malabaricum, D. j. intermedium, D. j. javanense, D. j. exsul, D. j. raveni

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at at Sungei Buloh

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

Sunda Woodpecker (Yungipicus moluccensis)

OTHER NAMES: Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
Latin Etymology: Yungipicus ("wryneck woodpecker") moluccensis ("of the Maluku Islands")

Adult female Sunda Woodpecker (subspecies Y. m. moluccensis) at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore - February 2017

Featured Subspecies: Yungipicus moluccensis moluccensis
Weight: 15-18g  /  Length: 11.5-12.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Sunda Woodpecker is a tiny species found primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia.  It is one of the more common woodpecker species in Singapore, which contrains many of it's preferred habitats such as tropical forest and mangrove.  This particular female was seem at the Gardens by the bay, flying in unexpectedly to start picking at a bare tree trunk.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dendrocopos or Yungipicus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: A single bird at Gardens by the Bay

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

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)

OTHER NAMES: Iberian Woodpecker

Latin Etymology: Picus ("woodpecker") sharpei (named for Orithologist Dr Richard Bowdler Sharpe)

Adult female Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei) at Parque Oeste, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 180-220g  /  Length: 31-33cm  /  Wingspan: 45-51cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Iberian Woodpecker is a close relation of the more widespread Green Woodpecker, which until recently it was considered part of the same species.  Visually, it differs in that it lacks the black mask that Green Woodpeckers normally have.  It seems to be fairly common in the forested parks of Madrid, I heard them calling or caught glimpses on a number of occasions before this very obliging individual landed on a tree in front of me where I could get clear views.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pito reál ("Royal Whistle")

Fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Parque Oeste and heard at El Retiro 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Heard at El Pardo

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

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Dendrocopos ("tree-striking") kizuki (French species name, derived from Japanese)

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (subspecies - D. k. seebohmi) at Shiranuka, Hokkaido, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: Dendrocopos kizuki seebohmi
Weight: 13-15g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Rd List - Least Concern

The naming of the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker gives a fairly solid outline for this species, it is a very small woodpecker which lives in Japan and the surrounding parts of Asia.  Beyond that my observations and research of this species has given me fairly little to go on, it's behavior during my my brief sighting was essentially consistent with any other tree climbing species I've encountered.  During my second Japan visit, I encountered two as part of a small flock with Eurasian Nuthatch and Japanese Tit that were far more approachable.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dendrocopos
Subspecies: D. k. ijimae, D. k. seebohmi, D. k. amanii, D. k. kizuki

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - コゲラ  /  Ko-gera ("Small woodpecker")

Fairly common resident.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single bird in Arashiyama.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single bird seem in Shiranuka.

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