Picus rabieri
The Red-collared Woodpecker (*Picus rabieri*) is a striking medium-sized woodpecker, endemic to the montane forests of Vietnam. Measuring approximately 30-32 cm (12-12.5 inches) in length, this species is characterized by its largely olive-green plumage, distinctly marked head, and scaled underparts. Males boast a prominent rufous-red nape and hindneck forming a 'collar,' complemented by a vibrant red forehead and crown, while females show red primarily on the nape, with a blackish, white-str...
Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, preferring primary evergreen broadleaf forests and mature secondary growth at elevations typically between 900 and 2000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding extensively on arboreal and subterranean ants and termites, including their larvae and pupae, supplemented with other insects.
Red-collared Woodpeckers are diurnal, usually observed foraging alone or in pairs. Their foraging strategy involves extensive pecking, probing, and gleaning on the trunks and larger branches of trees, particularly favoring larger, moss-covered trees. They are highly specialized for consuming ants...
The Red-collared Woodpecker is strictly endemic to the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam, with its range spanning from central to southern regions of the country. Its distribution is fragmented and disjunct, tied closely to the remaining patches of suitable montane evergreen forest. Key provinces whe...
Vulnerable
- The Red-collared Woodpecker was first scientifically described in 1927, making it a relatively recent discovery for ornithology. - It is one of the few bird species truly endemic to Vietnam, found nowhere else in the world. - Its preferred habitat is mature montane evergreen forest, which is in...