Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei Scientific name definitions

18–20 cm; 23–38 g (macei). Male  has buffish lower forehead, red upper forehead to nape with black feather bases showing, white lores, face  and sides of neck tinged pale buffish, especially on ear-coverts, black malar stripe expanding at rear and continuing just on to upper breast side; very pale dirty buffish-white chin and throat; black hindneck and upperparts, broad white bars from mantle to upper rump, wing-coverts broadly tipped white; black flight-feathers barred white; uppertail black, outer one or two feather pairs barred white; light buffish-brown below, breast occasionally tinged reddish, belly and flanks sometimes browner, breast sides and flanks streaked blackish, lower flanks and belly sometimes barred, central lower belly to undertail-coverts unmarked red; long bill straight, chisel-tipped, blackish-grey, paler base; iris red-brown, orbital skin grey; legs grey-green to greenish-slate. Distinguished from Leiopicus auriceps by much longer bill, fully red crown, darker underparts with less heavy streaking; from D. atratus by slightly smaller size, less heavy streaking below. Female  has entire top of head black. Juvenile duller above and below than adult, has only small area of pink (not red) on undertail-coverts, both sexes with some red in crown centre, much less on female. Race <em>westermani</em>  has longer bill, wing and tail than nominate, slightly darker throat contrasting less with breast.

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Forms a species-pair with D. atratus. Until recently, generally treated as conspecific with D. analis, but separated (1 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ) by its bright red vs pale pink vent (2); less extensive white barring on tail (3); dark-streaked breast sides vs lightly spotted breast  (2); dirty buff vs stony-buff underparts, notably on chin and throat (ns[1]); larger size, with no overlap in measurements (expected score at least 2); different voice (expected score at least 2). Name of NW race sometimes spelt as westermanni, but correct original spelling is as given below. Described form humei (from Khasi Hills, in NE India) included in nominate. Two subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open, damp mixed forest in lowlands and uplands, preferring open forest, edge, secondary growth, open country with scattered trees, plantations and gardens; found also in bamboo stands, and in scattered trees and larger bushes along dry riverbeds. In Himalayas, occurs in tall deciduous stands, especially mixed Bombax–Ficus woods; also tropical dry deciduous scrub in Pakistan. Sea-level to mountains, in Himalayas to c. 2800 m.

Resident.

Ants, a variety of other insects, larvae (usually large ones), also small scorpions (Scorpiones); berries and fruits also taken. Occurs singly or in pairs, or in family parties, also in mixed-species flocks. Favours tall trees, including isolated ones in open areas near forest. Forages  on trunks and larger branches, also well up under the crown and among crown foliage on small branches and large twigs; rarely at lower levels, or on the ground when seeking ants. Feeding techniques include gleaning, probing and strong pecks and hammering; also prises off bark.

Call  an abrupt “skik” or “tchick”, sharper than that of Picoides canicapillus, higher and clearer than that of D. atratus, given singly or in series; rattle comprising call note and a series of slightly lower “pit” notes, terminating with call note, slower than similar vocalization of Picoides canicapillus; a growling “kik-i-derr” occasionally given. Drums in weak, short rolls, each roll accelerating a little before dying, roll duration 1–2 seconds.

Jan–May, sometimes to Jun. Display with crest-raising, swinging movements and others, also fluttering aerial display. Nest-hole excavated by both sexes, up to 3 m or more above ground in branch of tree, or in bamboo. Clutch 2–5 eggs, usually 3; incubation and brood-feeding by both parents, respective periods not documented.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Global population not quantified, but species appears to be rare to locally common. Local and rare in Pakistan, but possibly more common than believed; common to frequent in Nepal, common in India and Bangladesh, uncommon in Bhutan; uncommon to fairly common in Myanmar. Numbers believed to be stable, with no known evidence for any declines or substantial threats. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Corbett, Dibru Saikhowa and Kaziranga National Parks (India).