Olive-backed Woodpecker (Dinopium rafflesii)

Other Names (World)
Olive-backed Woodpecker, Olive-backed Three-toed Woodpecker, Raffles's Woodpecker

Family
Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Size
28 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Vigors & Horsfield, 1830)

Habitat
Primary and secondary lowland dipeterocarp forest, peatswamp forest, kerangas, mangroves. Generally avoids secondary growth and cleared areas. From sea-level - 400 m. occasionally to 1,585 m.

Range (Guide)

Brunei Darussalam (B), Indonesia (B), Malaysia (B), Myanmar (B), Singapore (E) (B), Thailand (B).

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.

Status NT
Habitat loss through illegal logging and conversion to agriculture is the main threat.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Solitary or in pairs.

Food
Mainly ants and their larvae.

Voice
A rapid, machinegun-like series of strident 'pi-pi-pi...' notes. A short , softer 'chik'. Also drumming.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (17)...)

Olive-backed Woodpecker (Dinopium rafflesii) [XC620803]
by id from Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia (call)

Olive-backed Woodpecker (Dinopium rafflesii) [XC22638]
by Martjan Lammertink from Meratus, East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia (drumming)

Nest
In a hole excavated in a tree about 3 m above the ground.

Subspecies
Individual variation considerable, and subspecies poorly marked, differing only in size. Described subspecies peninsulare (Malacca) considered synonymous with nominate.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

rafflesii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1830) - Southern Myanmar (southern Tennaserim) and peninsular Thailand south to Sumatra, including Bangka.
dulitense Delacour, 1946 - Borneo.

Similar Species
Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus) and Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) which have yellowish-green upperparts, red rump and black and white underparts.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Olive-backed Woodpecker (Dinopium rafflesii) - 10 files

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BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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