Buff-rumped Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Meiglyptes tristis
Malay Name: Belatuk-Batu Biasa
Chinese Name: 黄腰斑啄木鸟

Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: grammithorax, tristis.

Local Subspecies: grammithorax

Size: 17 cm

Identification:
A densely barred woodpecker with a slight nuchal crest and whitish-buff rump. Female has no red submoustachial.

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth and other suitable wooded area.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually forages at the canopy level and generally unobtrusive.

Local Status: Very rare non breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Endangered (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Deemed to have been extirpated from Singapore until one individual was photographed at Jelutong Tower in August 2013, followed by a female at Bidadari in March 2015 and again at Pulau Ubin where a male was photographed in August 2018 and May 2019.

Photos:

Buff-rumped Woodpecker at Pulau Ubin. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Buff-rumped Woodpecker at Pulau Ubin. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Buff-rumped Woodpecker at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Con Foley

Buff-rumped Woodpecker at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Con Foley

Buff-rumped Woodpecker at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Meiglyptes tristis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.