Grey-and-buff woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey-and-buff woodpecker |
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| Female with grey forehead | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hemicircus
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| Species: |
concretus
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The Grey-and-buff Woodpecker (scientific name: Hemicircus concretus) is a cool type of bird that belongs to the woodpecker family, Picidae. You can find these unique birds in countries like Brunei, Indonesia (on islands like Sumatra and Borneo), Malaysia, southern Myanmar, and southern Thailand. Sadly, they used to live in Singapore but are not found there anymore. These woodpeckers love living in tropical or subtropical moist broadleaf forests, both in low areas and on mountains.
Contents
About the Grey-and-buff Woodpecker
How Scientists Name Animals
The Grey-and-buff Woodpecker was first officially described by a Dutch scientist named Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1821. He gave it the scientific name Picus concretus. Later, in 1837, another scientist named William John Swainson created the group (or genus) called Hemicircus, where this woodpecker is now placed.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of this woodpecker:
- H. c. sordidus (named by Eyton in 1845) – found in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and nearby islands.
- H. c. concretus (named by Temminck in 1821) – found in Java.
Sometimes, people think of these two types as separate species.
What Does This Woodpecker Look Like?
This woodpecker has a round body and a short, rounded tail. It grows to be about 13.5 centimeters (about 5.3 inches) long. Its head looks quite big because its neck is thin and it has a large, cone-shaped crest on top.
The head is mostly grey. There's a thin, wavy white line that goes from its cheek down to its back.
- Male woodpeckers have a red forehead and a grey crest.
- Female woodpeckers have both a grey forehead and a grey crest.
The upper parts of its body and its wings are blackish. The feathers have white or buff edges, which makes them look like they have a scalloped pattern. Its belly is grey, and its tail and the underside of its wings are dark. Its legs can be grey or brown. The beak is long, thin, and grey with a black tip. Its eyes are chestnut-colored.
Where Do They Live?
This woodpecker lives in tropical parts of Southeast Asia. You can find it from southern Myanmar and peninsular Thailand and Malaysia, all the way to Sumatra and Borneo. It stays in the same area all year round.
They prefer evergreen rainforests, especially in clearings or at the edges of forests. You might also spot them in plantations, bamboo thickets, or even in wooded areas in towns and on farms.
Life and Habits of the Woodpecker
How They Behave and What They Eat
The Grey-and-buff Woodpecker is usually seen alone or in pairs. Sometimes, they join groups of different bird species to look for food in the treetops. They mostly pick insects and fruit off surfaces, rather than drilling deep into wood. One of their favorite foods is mistletoe berries.
Reproduction and Roosting
These woodpeckers sleep together at night in shallow holes they dig close to each other in dead wood. When it's time to lay eggs, they use deeper holes or cracks. The breeding season usually happens between December and July.
Conservation Status
Even though the Grey-and-buff Woodpecker can live in different types of places, its numbers are slowly going down because its habitat is being lost. It has even disappeared from Singapore. While it lives across a very large area, it's generally not a common bird. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that this species is of "least concern". This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing, but it's still important to protect its homes.
