Meiglyptes grammithorax
The Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes grammithorax) is a distinctive, medium-sized member of the Picidae family, captivating ornithologists with its unique plumage and understated presence in Southeast Asian forests. Measuring approximately 19-21 cm in length and weighing around 40-60 grams, it is characterized by its namesake buff-colored rump, which contrasts sharply with its finely barred blackish-brown and whitish underparts. Its head, throat, and chest are streaked, and it possesses a s...
Found primarily in lowland and hill rainforests, as well as degraded secondary growth, up to elevations of about 1500 meters. Favors areas with plenty of dead wood, snags, and bamboo.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding largely on ants and termites, as well as beetle larvae and other small invertebrates found in decaying wood and bamboo. Forages by gleaning, probing, and shallow excavating.
Buff-rumped Woodpeckers are diurnal, typically active from dawn to dusk, and roost in excavated tree cavities at night. They employ a deliberate, quiet foraging strategy, methodically gleaning and probing for insects on the surface of dead wood, bamboo culms, and vines, often lower in the forest ...
The Buff-rumped Woodpecker is a resident species found across a broad swathe of Southeast Asia. Its primary distribution includes the Malay Peninsula (from southern Myanmar and Thailand south through Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore), Sumatra, Borneo, and several smaller islands including Bangka ...
Least Concern
- The Buff-rumped Woodpecker is often considered one of the quieter woodpeckers of Southeast Asia, preferring subtle calls over loud drumming. - Its genus, Meiglyptes, translates roughly to 'sculpted' or 'engraved,' referring to the finely barred patterns typical of its members. - Unlike many woo...