Meiglyptes tukki
The Buff-necked Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tukki) is a striking, medium-sized member of the Picidae family, measuring 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weighing 35-50g. Its most distinctive feature is a broad, pale buff band encircling the nape and upper mantle, contrasting sharply with its otherwise dark, sooty-brown to olive-brown plumage, which is subtly barred on the underparts. The male is distinguished by a small but prominent red malar stripe, absent in the female, representing its sole ...
Exclusively found in lowland primary and secondary evergreen rainforests, peat swamp forests, and coastal swamp forests, typically below 1100 meters elevation.
Feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites, including their larvae and pupae, supplemented occasionally with other small insects such as beetle larvae, extracted by probing and gleaning.
This diurnal woodpecker primarily forages in the understory and mid-story, often on dead tree trunks, stumps, and fallen logs, rather than high canopy. Its specialized technique involves deliberate, methodical gleaning and probing into soft, decaying wood, rather than typical hard-drilling. Gener...
The Buff-necked Woodpecker is a non-migratory resident across a broad range in Southeast Asia, primarily inhabiting the Sundaic lowlands. Its distribution spans the Malay Peninsula, including peninsular Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. Further populations are found on the large islan...
Least Concern
- The Buff-necked Woodpecker's prominent buff band around its neck and nape is unique among Southeast Asian woodpeckers, making it highly identifiable. - Despite being a "woodpecker," it rarely engages in heavy drilling, preferring to glean and probe for insects in soft, decaying wood rather than...