Size & diagnostic markings:- 25cm The bird size is about 25 cm long, with a lot of similarities with the Crimson-Winged Woodpecker. The color on the ear patch is critical. Male has reddish-rufous while the female has lighter color with speckles but never green. The crown, if the bird has one, it extend much further back beyond the side of the nape. To me, the most important question would be - do the bird appears dark red?

Distribution :-  The bird is resident in the Greater Sundas. There is a good local population of this bird in Malaysia but seen less often when compared to a few Woodpeckers.

Habitats & preferences:- This is a lowland birds that prefers forest edge to parks. Some unique observation here, the bird is seen less often when compared to the Crimson-winged, but this bird is seen in places with humans presence while the Crimson-winged do visit rural garden are seen more often in deep jungles.

The red wing patch at the fringes of the Crimson-winged leads to mixed up with the Crimson-winged Woodpecker. Otherwise the red on the Banded  Woodpecker covers the whole wing giving the bird that deep red look. The Crimson-winged looks yellowish orange. The main diagnostic marking is its orange-reddish face of  the Banded as compared to the greenish tinged face of the Crimson-winged. That is the case for the female. At times the one with Greenish face and a red stripe below its mouth, then it is a positive ID for the male Crimson-winged.

The Banded Woodpecker on the few occasions I met them were in pair. They showed no fear of my presence and less likely to take flight when compared with other Woodpeckers. This is one Woodpecker that was not encountered so often. I would say that this is a forest Woodpecker  though also found in forest edges. Cannot say for certain where to track down the bird or where they are most likely to hang out as their food seeking pattern is not known.

In Malaysia, where can the bird be found:- So far, this bird is seen in the most unexpected places, usually in Ampang Recreation Park, Kiara Park and only one time in Awana, a sub-montane forest edge environment. It is harder to meet up with - lower population?

With Will would Wander