White bellied woodpecker

Appearance

This species is one of the largest living species of woodpecker. Adults range in size from 40 to 48 cm and are second in size only to the great slaty woodpecker among Asian woodpecker species. The species is considered closely related to the more northern black woodpecker and the North American pileated woodpecker and is similar in size to these species. Body mass can vary from 197 to 350 g . Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 20.5 to 25.2 cm , the tail is 14.3 to 18.9 cm , the bill is 4.6 to 6 cm and the tarsus is 3.2 to 4.3 cm .

Subspecies ''hodgsonii'' has whitish underwing coverts and a white rump. The face lacks white but juveniles of the nominate race can have white streaks on the throat. Differences from the other Southeast Asian subspecies in the vocalizations and morphology of this species are suggested to be large enough to raise this to full species status. Solitary adults may spend an hour foraging at a suitable tree. Subspecies ''hodgsonii'' of India breeds from January to May, mainly in large dead trees, often using the same tree year after year. The normal clutch is usually of two eggs. They feed mainly on insects such as ants or grubs obtained mainly from under bark but sometimes take fruit. Although shy, they can nest close to well used tracks and human disturbed areas. They have a range of calls from a short, sharp "kuk" to more intoned "kyuk", "kew", "kee-yow" calls. The longer calls are given prior to flying off. They roost within holes.

Naming

These subspecies are described:
⤷  ''D. j. javensis''
⤷  ''D. j. philippinensis''
⤷  ''D. j. cebuensis'' Kennedy, 1987
⤷  ''D. j. confusus''
⤷  ''D. j. feddeni''
⤷  ''D. j. forresti'' Rothschild, 1922
⤷  ''D. j. hargitti''
⤷  ''D. j. hodgsonii'' is found mainly in the Western Ghats of India but also known from central India and the Eastern Ghats.
⤷  ''D. j. mindorensis''
⤷  ''D. j. multilunatus''
⤷  ''D. j. parvus''
⤷  ''D. j. pectoralis''
⤷  ''D. j. richardsi'' Tristram, 1879
⤷  ''D. j. suluensis''

The Andaman woodpecker was treated as a subspecies in the past. The species has in the past been placed in the genus ''Thriponax'' and ''Macropicus''.

Behavior

This large black woodpecker is usually seen singly or as a pair, which may sometimes be accompanied by a third bird. They have a dipping in which the loud single note laugh like ''chiank'' call is produced. They also produce loud drumming, especially in the breeding season. The breeding season is mainly January to March. The nest is built in a large dead tree, often in open forest. Two white eggs are the usual clutch. In Bastar in central India, the squabs are sought after by tribals, resulting in the rarity of these birds.

Habitat

This large black woodpecker is usually seen singly or as a pair, which may sometimes be accompanied by a third bird. They have a dipping in which the loud single note laugh like ''chiank'' call is produced. They also produce loud drumming, especially in the breeding season. The breeding season is mainly January to March. The nest is built in a large dead tree, often in open forest. Two white eggs are the usual clutch. In Bastar in central India, the squabs are sought after by tribals, resulting in the rarity of these birds.