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| The Vibrant Guardian of Hill Forests – The Darjeeling Woodpecker, Male |
| The Darjeeling Woodpecker is a brightly-coloured and well-marked woodpecker of high-altitude Himalayan foothill forests. Similar to Great Spotted Woodpecker but with a densely-streaked yellowish belly and pale yellow-orange on the neck and throat. Males have a bright red patch on the back of the crown which females lack. Like other large black-and-white woodpeckers, usually seen singly or in pairs, drumming away on tree trunks. Its eye-catching appearance and unique eating habits render it a true gem in the world of birds. The speckled black spots on their white throat and underparts give these woodpeckers a truly distinctive appearance. . . . . . . . . …. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. … The Darjeeling Woodpecker is a captivating bird has vibrant plumage that distinguishes it from others and its black wings and tail are beautifully embellished with white bars, creating a striking contrast. It measures between 23 to 25 cm in length and weighs about 67 to 87 gms. The Male of nominate race has whitish lower forehead, black upper forehead and crown, narrow red nape patch, black hindneck; white lores, white sides of head tinged buff (sometimes strongly), golden-yellow to deep orange-buff sides of neck; black malar stripe extending to lower rear ear coverts and down to sides of upper breast; black upperparts, wings sometimes browner, inner coverts largely white, flight feathers narrowly barred white; uppertail black, outer 1 to 3 feather pairs barred white to pale buff; chin to upper breast brownish-buff to buff-brown, paler on lower breast, more yellow on flanks and belly, breast sides and lower breast with heavy black streaking, flanks and belly often more barred, undertail coverts pinkish-red; long straight bill dark grey to blackish, pale grey lower mandible with greener or ivory-coloured base; iris red to red-brown, orbital skin slaty grey; legs grey-green. Female has red of nape replaced by black. Juvenile as adult, but lacks golden patch on neck, is duller below with streaked throat, more barred belly and flanks, duller paler red on undertail coverts, eyes dark brown, male with dull red crown, female usually with small red central patch or red tips but red may be lacking. There are Two subspecies currently recognized with variation mainly in various aspects of plumage colour of upperparts, underparts, crown and upper nape. . . . . . . . . …. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. … The Darjeeling Woodpecker is found in Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Tibet. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Found in high-elevation forest, cloud forest with moss-covered trees, open woodland; also evergreen and coniferous forest, and Rhododendron woods. It inhabits elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 mtrs, with breeding typically occurring between 1,830 and 3,500 mtrs, and descending to lower elevations during the winter months. . . . . . . . . …. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. … Feeds on larvae of wood-boring insects; also adults, larvae and pupae of other insects. Usually forages singly or in pairs, which keep loose contact; will also join mixed-species flocks. Exploits all levels of habitat, visiting fallen logs, tree trunks and canopy. Mossy and dead surfaces carefully inspected, debris removed. Forceful pecking is rather common technique, and also uses gleaning and probing, mostly feed on insects tucked away beneath tree bark or hidden inside trunk crevices. But they also love to munch on fruits and seeds when insects are scarce. With their powerful beaks, they carve tiny holes in tree bark to effortlessly access the insects lurking within. Additionally, their agile, elongated tongues are perfect for latching onto their prey. . . . . . . . . …. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. … Single “tsik” calls, as fast series in alarm; also trill-like rattle. Drums frequently in breeding season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …………………….. ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………. .. ……… …… … …. ……….. Description Credit – Birds of the World (The Cornell Lab), Oiseaux, Birda, Animalia, Nepal Desk, Ogaclicks, Birds of India | Bird World, Bird Count India & Wiki. |
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