Himalayan Woodpecker
Dendrocopos himalayensis
The Himalayan Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis) is a rare woodpecker found in 3 countries, weighing about 68 g. The Himalayan woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae.
About the Himalayan Woodpecker
The Himalayan woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, primarily the Himalayas and some adjoining areas, and ranges across Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Its natural habitats are boreal forests and temperate forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
A medium-sized, pied woodpecker reaching a length of about 24 cm (9 in). Glossy black above with broad white patches from shoulder to lower back, limited white barring on flight feathers and clean white tail edgings. Underparts and head white or plain pale buff with black Y-shaped mark on neck and cheeks. The crown is red in males and black in females. Black marks under eyes are unique and distinguish it from other species. Vent and under-tail coverts red or pink. Iris chestnut, beak blackish and legs grey.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Himalayan Woodpecker?
- A medium-sized, pied woodpecker reaching a length of about 24 cm (9 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Himalayan Woodpecker?
- The Himalayan Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 68 g.
- Where can you see a Himalayan Woodpecker?
- The Himalayan Woodpecker occurs in 3 countries, including India, Pakistan and Nepal.
- What birds look similar to a Himalayan Woodpecker?
- The Himalayan Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, the Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and the Darjeeling Woodpecker.
- Is the Himalayan Woodpecker endangered?
- The Himalayan Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Himalayan Woodpecker for real
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