Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Scientific name definitions

25–28 cm; 57–74 g (chlori­gaster), 74–83 g (simlae). Male has green ­forehead and crown bordered with red feather tips, golden-yellow or orangey on crest and hindneck; olive-green ear-coverts and neck side, usually small area of white just behind upper corner of eye; upper lores black, lower lores to below lower edge of ear-coverts white, streaked olive; red malar stripe with some olive-green feather bases usually showing; olive to greyish chin and throat variably marked with white streaks or bars, throat pattern very variable, sometimes mainly whitish but can be all dark; green upperparts tinged golden-yellow, rump often brighter; outer webs of secondaries and of inner primaries rufous, edged green (rufous more prominent when wings worn), rest of primaries and inner webs of secondaries dark brown with white bar-like spots; uppertail blackish, outer feathers washed green; lower throat and breast grey-green to dark green, belly to undertail-coverts off-white with slightly diffuse olive to olive-grey or brownish-olive chevrons; underwing brownish, olive coverts, barred whitish; fairly long bill almost straight, chisel-tipped, broad across nostrils, blackish-grey, paler, yellower base of lower mandible; iris red-brown to dark red, orbital skin greyish; legs grey-green. Female is slightly smaller than male, lacks red in malar, has red of crown confined to small patch at rear sides . Juvenile duller above, more barred on breast, with less red on crown than respective adult. Races differ mainly in tone of upperparts, pattern of underparts, and size: <em>simlae</em> is largest, with longer wings and longer tail than nominate, greener, less yellow, above, nape less golden; annamensis is smaller than nominate, darker green above, with more red on crown, whiter lower underparts, barring reaching to lower breast but more obscure on belly and flanks; <em>chlorigaster</em> is smaller than previous races, lacks white on face, has more red but less yellow on head, is darker green above with more red on wings, dull olive-green below with pale bar-like spotting on flanks and belly, pale spots on breast; wellsi is somewhat darker than last, with even more red on crown, wings with slightly more rufous, reduced pale markings below; rodgeri resembles previous but not quite so dark above, has prominent pale cheekstripe, less red on crown, slight golden tinge on crest, more bars below; vanheysti resembles last, but somewhat yellower above, greener, less grey, below; citrinocristatus lacks red malar, has upperparts only slightly yellow-tinged, underparts sooty-grey with paler bars on flanks, brighter lemon-yellow nape; longipennis is slightly smaller than previous, with stronger green tinge below, flanks more barred.

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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.

Evergreen forest and moist deciduous forest, dry forest, woodland, bamboo, scrub, plantations, and well-wooded gardens. Habitats most diverse in India, especially where no other congeners occur. From lowlands and foothills to 1800 m; to c. 2100 m in Sikkim and Nepal (common only to 1750 m); above 900 m in Peninsular Malaysia; 800–1400 m in Sumatra. Replaces P. puniceus at higher altitudes.

Resident. Possible dispersal; recorded as rare vagrant in NE Pakistan.

Ants, including Crematogaster, also beetles and their larvae (including dung beetles); other insect larvae. Also takes berries and nectar. Forages singly, in pairs, or in small family groups; regularly joins mixed-species flocks, particularly with babblers (Timaliidae), drongos (Dicruridae) and other insectivores, or other woodpeckers. Forages in smaller trees, in undergrowth, often on fallen logs and dead trees in windthrow areas. Seems usually to prefer trunks and larger branches, but also moves along thin branches to reach arboreal nests of ants, or to probe at flowers. Forages commonly on ground, even seeks insects in dung pats. Gleaning and probing are the main foraging techniques; excavating with pecking and hammering infrequent. Movements are slow, except when accompanying other species. Can spend much time at a single site.

Loud, mournful, “pée-a” or “péee-ui”, also short “chak”; up to 10 “kwee” notes in slow, slightly descending series; low chuckling noises in close intersexual confrontations. Drums occasionally.

Feb–Jul, mainly Mar–May. Crest-raising in display. Nest excavated by both sexes in (partly) dead trunk or branch, at 1·5–20 m, mostly below 5 m. Usually 3–4 eggs (2–5), clutches smaller in S; both sexes incubate, and both feed chicks, by regurgitation; incubation and fledging periods unknown.

Not globally threatened. Common to fairly common, or locally common, throughout most of range; common in SE Asia; uncommon in China. Occurs in numerous protected areas in all parts of range. Adaptable; able to thrive in secondary habitats.