Hemicircus canente
The Heart-spotted Woodpecker (*Hemicircus canente*) is a small, uniquely structured member of the Picidae family, immediately recognizable by its exceptionally compact, almost spherical body and remarkably short tail. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm (5.9-6.3 in) in length and weighing around 28-32 g (1.0-1.1 oz), it presents a striking appearance with predominantly sooty black plumage contrasting sharply with white underparts and a prominent, shaggy crest. Its most diagnostic field marks are...
This woodpecker primarily inhabits moist evergreen and deciduous forests, often found in the sub-canopy and lower canopy layers, ranging from lowlands up to approximately 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in elevation.
The diet consists mainly of insects, particularly ants, termites, beetle larvae, and other small invertebrates, which they extract from bark and wood through gleaning and probing.
Heart-spotted Woodpeckers are diurnal, active foragers known for their distinctive, almost acrobatic movements as they climb tree trunks and branches. Unlike most woodpeckers, their extremely short tail prevents them from using it as a prop; instead, they rely heavily on their strong legs and fee...
The Heart-spotted Woodpecker is a resident species broadly distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its range extends from the lower Himalayas in Nepal and Northeast India, eastward through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and south into Peninsular...
Least Concern
- The Heart-spotted Woodpecker has an exceptionally short tail, which means it cannot use it as a prop for climbing like most woodpeckers, leading to its unique, almost acrobatic movements. - Its distinctive white "heart spots" on its black back are a key field mark and the direct inspiration for...