Great Slaty Woodpecker

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Mulleripicus pulverulentus

Malay Name: Belatuk-Kelabu Besar

Chinese Name: 大灰啄木鸟

Range: Found from northern Indian subcontinent to south western China, Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Palawan and the Greater Sundas

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: mohun, harterti, pulverulentus.

Local Subspecies: pulverulentus

Size: 45-51 cm

Identification: Unmistakable from its large size, longish neck, dark slaty-grey overall plumage with whitish spots on nape and neck, yellowish-white bill and golden-buff throat. Male has red submoustachial stripe.

Habitat: Broadleaved forest and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually frequents the canopy in small parties. Very noisy and conspicuous.

Local Status: Very rare visitor

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured reports: Mar 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Great Slaty Woodpecker at Central Catchment Forest. Photo credit: Francis Yap.
Male Great Slaty Woodpecker at Panti Forest. Photo credit: Con Foley
Female Great Slaty Woodpecker at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Photo credit: Myron Tay
Great Slaty Woodpecker at Central Catchment Forest. Photo credit: Francis Yap.
Female Great Slaty Woodpecker at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Photo credit: Myron Tay
Great Slaty Woodpeckers at Panti Forest. Photo credit: Con Foley
Female Great Slaty Woodpecker at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Photo credit: Jerold Tan
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Great Slaty Woodpecker)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Mulleripicus pulverulentus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22681585A92911785.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Great Slaty Woodpecker. Retrieved on April 23, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/great-slaty-woodpecker.

To top