Great Slaty Woodpecker
A species of Large Asian Woodpeckers Scientific name : Mulleripicus pulverulentus Genus : Large Asian Woodpeckers
Great Slaty Woodpecker, A species of Large Asian Woodpeckers
Botanical name: Mulleripicus pulverulentus
Genus: Large Asian Woodpeckers
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Wich'yanan (Jay) Limparungpatthanakij
Description
With the probable extinctions of the imperial woodpecker and the ivory-billed woodpecker, this species, at 48–58 cm (19–23 in) long and a weight of 360–563 g (0.794–1.241 lb), stands as the largest woodpecker in the world. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 21.5 to 25 cm (8.5 to 9.8 in), the tail is 13.4 to 16.2 cm (5.3 to 6.4 in), the bill is 6 to 6.5 cm (2.4 to 2.6 in) and the tarsus is 3.6 to 4.1 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in). This unique-looking woodpecker has several obvious distinctive features: a very long, strong chisel-tipped bill, an elongated neck and a long tail. A slight crest maybe occasionally evident. This species plumage is almost entirely dark grey or blackish slate-grey overlaid with small white spots. The throat is paler grey and males have small red moustache. Normally, the nominate subspecies is the darkest, most slaty gray race. M. p. harterti has a more pale throat with a greater amount of whitish feather tips forming small spot and is slightly paler below than the nominate, sometimes appearing almost whitish on the belly. The size and structure readily distinguishes this bird from almost any other species, including other woodpeckers. Occasionally, at first glance, the great slaty woodpecker is mistaken for a hornbill but, obviously, such a resemblance is slight at best. For a bird of such great size, the great slaty woodpecker has a weak, quiet voice, especially compared to other large woodpeckers, which tend to have loud, booming voices. The species call is a whinnying cackle of 2 to 5, usually 4 notes, woikwoikwoikwoik, the initial being higher in pitched and the middle note being distinctly lower. Single dwot calls, variable in sound, strength and duration, are sometimes given while perched or in flight. Breeding pairs of these woodpeckers have been heard to softly mew at each other. In more antagonistic situations, sharp taw-whit or dew-it calls are uttered while the birds swing their heads back and forth.
Size
50 cm
Nest Placement
Cavity
Feeding Habits
Great Slaty Woodpecker primarily consumes insects like ants, bees, termites, and larvae. They occasionally eat small fruits and forage mainly in tall trees individually or in groups, using gleaning, probing, and powerful hammering to find food. Unique cooperative foraging possibly occurs among family members.
Habitat
The great Slaty Woodpecker dwells in extensive primary forests, preferentially selecting semi-open, moist deciduous, and tropical evergreen habitats. These birds primarily inhabit areas that include secondary growth and open clearings with tall trees. They thrive in regions abundant with sizeable trees such as dipterocarp and mature sal forests, often below 600 m, though they may be occasionally discovered up to 2,000 m in montane zones.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is found in the Greater Sundas, but it does not inhabit Bali.
Species Status
Probably because of their feeding and breeding dependence on large old trees, great slaty woodpeckers are most common in primary forests and show density reductions of over 80% in logged forests. The global population is in decline because of the loss of forest cover and logging of old-growth forest throughout its range, with habitat loss being particularly rapid in Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia which are the countries that still hold the majority of the global population. In 2010, the great slaty woodpecker was included in the IUCN Red List in the Vulnerable category.
Photo By Wich'yanan (Jay) Limparungpatthanakij
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Family
Woodpeckers Genus
Large Asian Woodpeckers Species
Great Slaty Woodpecker