Picus viridanus
The Streak-breasted Woodpecker (Picus viridanus) is a striking medium-sized woodpecker, typically measuring 30-32 cm in length, characterized by its predominantly dull green plumage. Its most distinctive feature is the finely streaked breast and belly, which are olive-brown and whitish, contrasting with a darker green back and wings. Males boast a vibrant red crown and nape, while females sport a blackish-green crown and nape, sometimes flecked with red. A prominent black malar stripe extends...
Primarily inhabits dry to moist deciduous and evergreen forests, open woodlands, plantations, and dense bamboo stands, typically in lowlands and foothills up to 1,500 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites, including their larvae and pupae, extracted from ground nests and rotting wood using its specialized long, sticky tongue.
This woodpecker is strictly diurnal, actively foraging from dawn until dusk and roosting individually in tree cavities or dense foliage overnight. It is a specialized ground forager, frequently observed on the forest floor or low in trees, meticulously probing ant and termite nests with its long,...
The geographic distribution of the Streak-breasted Woodpecker spans across mainland Southeast Asia. Its range encompasses southeastern Myanmar, extends throughout most of Thailand (excluding the southernmost regions), and covers the majority of Laos, Cambodia, and central to southern Vietnam. The...
Least Concern
- The Streak-breasted Woodpecker is one of Southeast Asia's specialized "green woodpeckers," often requiring careful observation to distinguish from similar species, with its streaked breast being a key identifier. - Unlike many woodpeckers that spend most of their time high in the canopy, this s...