Gecinulus rafflesii
The Olive-backed Woodpecker (Gecinulus rafflesii) is a strikingly beautiful medium-sized woodpecker, typically measuring 25-27 cm in length and weighing around 89-113 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a rich, deep olive-green, providing excellent camouflage within its dense forest habitat. Males are distinguished by a prominent crimson crown and nape, a vivid splash of color contrasting with their otherwise subdued tones, while females exhibit less extensive red, often confined to a patch o...
Found primarily in lowland and submontane evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, often preferring areas with dense undergrowth, clearings, and edges, up to elevations of about 1000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, termites, beetle larvae, and other invertebrates extracted from wood and bark.
Olive-backed Woodpeckers are diurnal, typically observed foraging alone or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. They employ classic woodpecker foraging strategies, meticulously inspecting tree trunks and branches by climbing, probing, and sometimes excavating bark for concealed in...
The Olive-backed Woodpecker is an endemic resident species found throughout parts of Southeast Asia. Its primary distribution encompasses the Malay Peninsula, including southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore, extending southwards to Sumatra and Borneo. Two recognized subspecies exi...
Least Concern
- The Olive-backed Woodpecker's scientific name, Gecinulus rafflesii, honors Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist. - Its strikingly uniform olive-green plumage is quite distinctive among the woodpecker species found in its Southeast Asian range. - Males and fema...