Dryocopus javensis (Horsfield, 1821)

Accepted

/8f4d3e31-d408-4311-8c3a-9096ccb86a17/79.JPG

🗒 Synonyms

No Data

🗒 Common Names

English	Great Black Woodpecker White-bellied Woodpecker
Malayalam	കാക്ക മരംകൊത്തി, Kakka Maramkotthi

📚 Overview

Overview

Summary

Bird group

Woodpeckers

Brief

A magnificent large black woodpecker with conspicuous white rump, and white underparts from breast down. Singly or in pairs, in large tree in forest. One of the largest species of woodpecker after the Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department

Diagnostic

Diagnostic Keys

Description

Male with brilliant crimson forehead, crown, nuchal crest and cheeks. In female crimson confined to nape only.

In flight, shows a white rump and underwing-coverts, and a small white patch at base of primaries.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 2011. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd ed. London: Oxford University Press & Christopher Helm. Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department

SubSpecies Varieties Races

Fifteen subspecies provisionally recognized.
D. j. hodgsonii (Jerdon, 1840) – distribution is in peninsular India in Western Ghats, S Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha to N Andhra Pradesh.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Winkler, H., Christie, D.A. & Kirwan, G.M. (2013). White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Winkler, H., Christie, D.A. & Kirwan, G.M. (2013). White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Diagnostic Keys

Description

Differences in vocalizations and morphology suggest that hodgsonii may be specifically distinct from widely distributed D.javensis of SE Asia.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Rasmussen, P. C. & Anderton, J. C. (2012) Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: Washington DC, Michigan & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions

No Data

📚 Nomenclature and Classification

Nomenclature and Classification

Taxon Record Name

References

Type Information

No Data

📚 Natural History

Breeding season: principally January- March.

Nest, the usual woodpecker hole, 12 cm in diameter, excavated in rotten trunks of large branchless trees at heights between 8 – 20 m from ground.
Eggs- Normally 2, white, broad oval.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press. Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548. Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548. Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.

Migration

Resident.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References

Dispersal

Life Expectancy

Size

Relative Size (Birds)

Crow±

length-48 cm

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References

Growth

Morphology

Predominant colors (Birds)

Calls include a very loud, explosive, short, penetrating, nasal, downturned ‘Kyank’, less shrill than most other woodpeckers calls. When disturbed gives a ‘k-k-k-k-k’ series. Call of this particular species is very much distinct and louder compared to other woodpeckers.

Habits are typical of woodpeckers. Flight stately and unhurried, with deliberate wing-beats.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Rasmussen, P. C. & Anderton, J. C. (2012) Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: Washington DC, Michigan & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.

Trophic Strategy

Food consists largely of the grubs of wood-boring beetles and pupae of white-ants. However, instances of frugivory have been observed on the fruits of Macaranga peltata and Olea dioica.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department Santharam, V. 1999. Frugivory by the Great Black Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 96: (2) 319–320.

Miscellaneous Details

No Data

📚 Habitat and Distribution

Habitat and Distribution

General Habitat

Habitat

Terrestrial

Affects climax and secondary forest in evergreen and moist-deciduous biotope. Partial to mixed bamboo jungle and lofty natural shade trees in coffee and cardamom plantation in south India. Though previously considered to be very sensitive to deforestation and anthropogenic disturbance but few studies have not supported this claim. Large dead or dying trees are crucial for the survival as, they are essential for nesting.

Altitudinal distribution: Plains, foothills to 1200 m.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press. Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548. Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Distribution

Description

Found mainly in Western Ghats also recorded from Central India and Eastern Ghats.

In Surat Dangs (S Gujrat), Goa, Khandesh (W.Maharashtra), Bastar (SE Madhya Pradesh), Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, W.Mysore (Karnataka), Nilgiris (W.Tamil Nadu)and Kerala.

Species’ distribution is more discontinuous in the northern part of the Western Ghats, in Maharashtra.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press. Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Endemic Distribution

No Data

📚 Occurrence

Occurrence

No Data

📚 Demography and Conservation

Demography and Conservation

Population Biology

The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be local and uncommon throughout its range.

A population of 4,800 individuals is estimated for the Western Ghats.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38 BirdLife International 2012. Dryocopus javensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.

Trends

Decreasing.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	BirdLife International 2012. Dryocopus javensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.

Risk Statement

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Category

Least Concern

Threats

Large dead or dying trees are crucial for the survival as, they are essential for nesting. Conversion of forest to plantation and managed forest are threats to the species habitat.

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References	Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Legislation

Protection Legal Status

Woodpeckers (Picidae) family included under schedule IV under the Wildlife Protection Act. 1972

Madhumita Panigrahi

Attributions
Contributors	Madhumita Panigrahi
Status	UNDER_CREATION
Licenses	CC_BY
References

No Data

📚 Uses and Management

No Data

📚 Information Listing

Information Listing

Species Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)

Encyclopedia of Life (EOL)

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

References

Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].

Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].

Overview > Brief

Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department

Overview > Diagnostic > Description

Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 2011. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd ed. London: Oxford University Press & Christopher Helm.
Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department

Overview > SubSpecies Varieties Races

Winkler, H., Christie, D.A. & Kirwan, G.M. (2013). White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Winkler, H., Christie, D.A. & Kirwan, G.M. (2013). White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Overview > SubSpecies Varieties Races > Description

Rasmussen, P. C. & Anderton, J. C. (2012) Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: Washington DC, Michigan & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions

Natural History > Reproduction

Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.
Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548.
Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548.
Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.

Natural History > Behaviour

Rasmussen, P. C. & Anderton, J. C. (2012) Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: Washington DC, Michigan & Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution, Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions
Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.

Natural History > Trophic Strategy

Ali, S. (1999) Birds of Kerala. Third, revised edition. Thiruvananthapuram, India: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department
Santharam, V. 1999. Frugivory by the Great Black Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 96: (2) 319–320.

Habitat and Distribution > General Habitat

Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.
Neelakantan, K. K. 1976. A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 72: (2) 544–548.
Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Habitat and Distribution > Distribution > Description

Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D. (2001). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Frougmouths to Pittas (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 208-210). Oxford University Press.
Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Demography and Conservation > Population Biology

Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38
BirdLife International 2012. Dryocopus javensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.

Demography and Conservation > Trends

BirdLife International 2012. Dryocopus javensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.

Demography and Conservation > Threats

Santharam, V. 2003. Distribution, ecology and conservation of the White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis in the Western Ghats, India. Forktail. 19: 31–38

Information Listing > References

Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].