Malaysian birds - Laced Woodpecker

Malaysian Birds

Laced Woodpecker

Size & diagnostic markings:- 30 cm. The size of this bird varies quite a bit from 27-33 cm, the male has smooth olive green upper part and throat, then a red crown. For this bird, the female though has all similar feature, unmarked Olive green back and lighter shade on the underpart but somewhat looks more different, having a black crown, both without crest.

Distribution :- This is a bird from Sumatra and Java up to Bali. It is also a resident in Malaysia, fairly common bird.

Habitats & preferences:- This is a bird of the Mangrove forest and usually seen in pairs. Inside the bush and in the lower and middle storey of Mangrove trees

This is a large bird of the mangrove forest. In Malaysia, all the time the birds were seen, the habitats is closely related to coastal wetlands. hence it is unlikely that it would stray into gardens and plantations. The few stretches of large mangrove forests left are those in Matang and Kukup. In other parts of the coast, only a narrow belt of mangrove forest which would be measuring a couple hundreds of meters. I believe if you are there at the right season, they should be out in numbers. Breeding season is February-July, the second quarters is the best time.

Typical of all Woodpeckers, the bird would be seen moving up tree trunks. I suppose this is one way of gaining height. From the spots high up in tall places, the birds gets better choice of its next destination. They don't stay in these high spots. They very quickly descend to the choice spot. I mention this, many times now, in Air Hitam and the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, the birds were seen forging among thick foliages in the middle as well as lower storey. There are secondary jungles at the edges of mangrove forest and invariably trees there are low bushes. The Laced Woodpeckers would be flying in without calls and spending some time at eye level with you.

For ID, remember it is coastal wetland. A Woodpecker with Olive back color and a red head. Our Malaysian species has a thick black colored sub-moustchial stripe. One that has a dull olive upper side. Then the head is lined with a black colored crown, this is the female.
In Malaysia, where can the bird be found:- There are not many mangrove forest left in Peninsula, but I find that it is more often seen in Selangor and hardly encountered in Port Weld area.