Dryobates cathpharius
The Crimson-naped Woodpecker, Dryobates cathpharius, is a striking medium-sized member of the Picidae family, primarily found in the high-altitude forests of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Measuring approximately 18-21 cm in length and weighing between 32-52 grams, its plumage is a distinctive mosaic of black, white, and crimson. Key identification marks include a heavily barred black-and-white back, pristine white underparts streaked with black on the flanks, and a prominent crimson nape....
This species inhabits montane subtropical and temperate evergreen broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, and mixed forests, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 meters.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, including beetle larvae and adults, ants, and other arthropods, which it extracts by probing, gleaning, and drilling into bark and wood. It may also occasionally consume berries or sap.
The Crimson-naped Woodpecker is a diurnal species, spending its days actively foraging and communicating, usually roosting in excavated tree cavities at night. Its foraging strategy involves scaling bark, gleaning insects from crevices, and occasionally drilling into dead or decaying wood to extr...
The Crimson-naped Woodpecker boasts a wide, yet geographically fragmented, distribution across the montane regions of Asia, primarily residing in the Himalayas and extending into Southeast Asia. Its breeding and year-round range encompasses northern and northeastern India (including states like U...
Least Concern
- The 'cathpharius' in its scientific name translates from Greek, meaning 'pure-headed' or 'clean-headed,' referring to its relatively unmarked head compared to some other woodpeckers. - It is a specialist of high-altitude montane forests, rarely venturing below 1500 meters, making it a key indic...