Photo: Jason Thompson / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Zebra Woodpecker
Meiglyptes tristis
Zebra Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis) — 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 Zebra Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis) is a member of the Picidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 31.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Meiglyptes
- Species tristis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Zebra 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 Zebra Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Zebra Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Java.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.3 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 50,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Zebra Woodpecker?
The Zebra Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 31.7 g.
Where does the Zebra Woodpecker live?
The Zebra Woodpecker is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Java, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Zebra Woodpecker belong to?
The Zebra Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Zebra Woodpecker eat?
The Zebra Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Zebra Woodpecker migrate?
The Zebra Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Zebra Woodpecker endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Zebra Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Zebra 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 Zebra Woodpecker's range?
The Zebra Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 50,000 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.