Black-naped (Grey‑headed) Woodpecker Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Picus guerini
Family : Picidae
Order : Piciformes
Class : Aves
Phylum : Chordata
Habitat : Evergreen forest
Description : The grey-headed woodpecker is a bird species that measures around 25 to 26 cm in length and weighs approximately 125 g. It has a grey head with a black moustache, and the male has a red crown. Compared to the green woodpecker, it has uniformly olive green upperparts that gradually transition to a light grey on its neck and head. Its markings are small and not particularly noticeable, with a shorter neck, slimmer bill, and slightly rounder head than the green woodpecker.
Grey-headed woodpeckers breed during May and lay five to ten eggs, which are incubated and cared for by both parents. The eggs hatch after 15 to 17 days, and the chicks leave the nest and learn to fly in approximately 24 to 25 days.
The grey-headed woodpecker has a varied foraging strategy and feeds on ants, particularly in spring and summer, as well as other insects like caterpillars, beetles, flies, and spiders. It also consumes fruits and berries in late autumn and early winter. Although it is less specialized in hunting ants than the European green woodpecker, ants and their immatures still make up a significant portion of its diet. This allows the grey-headed woodpecker to coexist and even breed near the European green woodpecker.
Grey-headed woodpeckers breed during May and lay five to ten eggs, which are incubated and cared for by both parents. The eggs hatch after 15 to 17 days, and the chicks leave the nest and learn to fly in approximately 24 to 25 days.
The grey-headed woodpecker has a varied foraging strategy and feeds on ants, particularly in spring and summer, as well as other insects like caterpillars, beetles, flies, and spiders. It also consumes fruits and berries in late autumn and early winter. Although it is less specialized in hunting ants than the European green woodpecker, ants and their immatures still make up a significant portion of its diet. This allows the grey-headed woodpecker to coexist and even breed near the European green woodpecker.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
-
Dinopium shorii
(Himalayan Goldenback) -
Hemicircus canente
(Heart‑spotted Woodpecker) -
Sasia ochracea
(White‑browed Piculet) -
Mulleripicus pulverulentus
(Great Slaty Woodpecker) -
Dinopium benghalense
(Lesser Goldenback) -
Picus viridanus
(Streak-breasted Woodpecker) -
Dendrocopos macei
(Fulvous‑breasted Woodpecker) -
Blythipicus pyrrhotis
(Bay Woodpecker) -
Dinopium javanense
(Common Goldenback) -
Picoides nanus
(Indian Pygmy Woodpecker)
Species groups
-
Bee-eaters -
Booby -
frigatebird -
phalarope -
tropicbird -
Martins and Swallows -
Crows, Drongos & allies -
Woodpeckers -
Eared Nightjars -
Ibises & Spoonbills -
Trogons -
Coucals -
Pelicans -
Darters -
Gulls -
Warblers and allies -
Flowerpeckers & Sunbirds -
Sparrows, Wagtails, Pipits a& allies -
moonbird -
Hawks & Eagles -
Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers & allies -
Small Kingfishers -
Cisticola & Prinia -
Plovers & Lapwings -
Rails, Gallinules & Coots -
Tits -
Parrots -
Rosefinches and Buntings -
Bustards -
Grebes -
Pheasants & Partridges -
Old World flycatcher -
Starlings and Mynas -
Hornbills -
Buttonquails -
Rollers -
Bluebirds -
Crested Kingfishers -
Cormorants -
Pigeons and Doves -
Jacanas -
Typical Owl -
Finfoots &booby -
Flamingo -
Herons and Bitterns -
Treecreepers -
Nuthatch -
Barbets -
Treeswifts -
Swifts -
Crab-plovers, Coursers and Pratincoles -
Bulbuls -
Frogmouths -
Larks -
Storks -
Broadbills -
Thick-knees -
Painted-snipes -
Nightjars -
Barn-owls -
Large-billed Kingfishers -
Falcons -
Pittas -
Cranes -
Whistling-ducks -
Ducks, Geese & Swans -
Hoopoe
References:
description written by:Hajbun Tasnim Preety,Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka;information source:www.en.wikipedia.org, iucnredlist.org;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;photo credit: Mike Rose(www.inaturalist.org/people/Mike Rose),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;more information, please contact us.
description written by:Hajbun Tasnim Preety,Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka;information source:www.en.wikipedia.org, iucnredlist.org;taxonomic checklist:P. M. Thompson and S. U. Chowdhury (2020). A checklist of birds of Bangladesh.Birds Bangladesh;photo credit: Mike Rose(www.inaturalist.org/people/Mike Rose),photo shared from iNaturalist, photo copyright reserved according to iNaturalist rules;more information, please contact us.