Dryocopus javensis
The White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis) is a striking and large avian powerhouse, measuring between 42-48 cm (16.5-19 in) in length and weighing 270-360 g (9.5-12.7 oz), making it one of the largest woodpeckers in its extensive Asian range. Its distinctive appearance features a glossy black body, contrasting sharply with a pristine white belly and a prominent, fiery red crest. Field marks for identification include its impressive size, the bold black-and-white plumage, and the brigh...
This adaptable woodpecker primarily inhabits a variety of forest types, ranging from lowland evergreen and deciduous forests to secondary growth, teak plantations, and even bamboo thickets. It typically occurs from sea level up to elevations of 1500 meters, occasionally venturing higher into mont...
Its diet primarily consists of large wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and termites, which it extracts by powerfully excavating deep into dead or decaying wood.
The White-bellied Woodpecker is diurnal, spending its days actively foraging and communicating, and roosting solitarily or in pairs within tree cavities at night. Its foraging strategy involves powerful drilling and scaling of bark to extract insects, often creating substantial rectangular or irr...
The White-bellied Woodpecker boasts an extensive geographic distribution across South and Southeast Asia, extending into parts of East Asia. It is a resident species throughout its range, showing no migratory movements. Its breeding range covers a vast area from India and Nepal eastward through B...
Least Concern
- The White-bellied Woodpecker is one of the largest and most powerful woodpeckers in Asia, capable of creating significant excavations in tough wood. - Its drumming is incredibly loud and can be heard over long distances, serving as a vital communication signal in dense forests. - Males of some ...