Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Woodpecker
Picus erythropygius
Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) is a member of the Picidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 116 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Picus
- Species erythropygius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 116 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Not Evaluated
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, part of the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR se Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 116 g, with a wing length of about 15.7 cm and a tail of around 11.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 465,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Woodpecker?
The Black-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 116 g.
Where does the Black-headed Woodpecker live?
The Black-headed Woodpecker is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR se Asia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Woodpecker belong to?
The Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Black-headed Woodpecker eat?
The Black-headed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Woodpecker migrate?
The Black-headed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Woodpecker — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Woodpecker's range?
The Black-headed Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 465,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.