Blythipicus pyrrhotis
The Bay Woodpecker, Blythipicus pyrrhotis, is a striking and relatively large woodpecker native to Southeast Asia, instantly recognizable by its uniform deep bay or rufous-chestnut plumage, which often appears blackish in subdued light. Measuring 26-30 cm (10-12 inches) in length and weighing 100-140 grams, this species boasts a prominent, stout, chisel-tipped bill that ranges from pale yellow to ivory-white, providing a stark contrast to its dark body. Males are distinguished by a vivid crim...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist broadleaf evergreen forests, often found in secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and frequently near streams or clearings, typically at elevations between 300 and 1800 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of insect larvae, especially those of wood-boring beetles, as well as ants and termites, which they extract from dead wood through powerful pecking and probing. They may occasionally consume small fruits.
Bay Woodpeckers are diurnal, spending their days foraging and typically roosting in excavated tree cavities at night. They are specialized foragers, primarily targeting dead or decaying wood, large branches, stumps, and fallen logs, where they employ powerful hammer blows, scaling bark, and deep ...
The Bay Woodpecker boasts an extensive resident range across Southeast Asia, stretching from the eastern Himalayas through Indochina and parts of southern China down to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. Specifically, the nominate subspecies, *B. p. pyrrhotis*, occurs from Nepal, northeastern India...
Least Concern
- The name 'Bay Woodpecker' aptly describes its rich, reddish-brown (bay) plumage, which helps it blend into the dark understory of tropical forests. - Its scientific specific epithet, 'pyrrhotis,' is derived from Greek, meaning 'flame-eared,' referencing the striking crimson nape patch of the ma...