Photo: Mvshreeram / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker
Picus squamatus
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus) is a member of the Picidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 170 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 squamatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 170 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sc Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 170 g, with a wing length of about 16.1 cm and a tail of around 12 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 703,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 170 g.
Where does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker live?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sc Asia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker belong to?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker eat?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker migrate?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scaly-bellied 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 Scaly-bellied Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker's range?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 703,000 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.