12 Beautiful Woodpeckers of Assam

The Northeast Indian state of Assam is known for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Different types of forests of the state are home to various rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. Assam is also home to various species of woodpeckers. Here is the list of 12 most common woodpeckers of Assam.

1. Bay woodpecker (Blythipicus pyrrhotis)

This mid-sized woodpecker is a resident breeder of the Indian subcontinent. Their normal habitat is tropical or subtropical moist low land and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Though this species is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in their Red List, sighting of this bird is not very much easy in comparison to the other woodpeckers. The photo was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Guwahati, Assam.

2. Speckled piculet (Picumnus innominatus)

Speckled piculet is the smallest woodpecker species found in India. This is a bird of Picidae family. Its colour pattern of the chest justifies the nomenclature of the bird. Normally Speckled piculet forages in pair in thin branches of the trees. Sometimes they are seen hanging on a branch upside down. This photograph was clicked near Gerukamukh in the district of Dhemaji, Assam.

3. White-browed piculet (Sasia ochracea)

With a distinct white eyebrow, this tiny bird is a resident breeder of the Indian subcontinent. The natural habitat of this piculet is dense forest with plenty of bamboos, scrubs and swampy woodland. As per studies, the population of this bird is stable at present. There is no apparent threat to this species and hence this bird is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red list. This photograph of White-browed piculet was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

4. Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus)

This medium sized woodpecker chooses deciduous forest for living. Due to its wide distribution around the world, the IUCN enlists this species as Least Concern in their Red list. But unfortunately, the population of Grey-headed woodpecker has been declining in recent years. The photograph was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

5. Greater flameback (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus)

Greater flame back woodpecker is also known as Greater golden back. The male of this large woodpecker has a red crown while the crown colour of the female differs depending upon the subspecies. Like other woodpeckers, the Greater flame back also uses its beak to dig out foods from tree trunk. This photo of Greater flame back was clicked in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam.

6. Greater yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha

This large, olive green woodpecker has a prominent yellow nape. This bird is a resident breeder of Asia. Dense broad leaf forest is the ideal habitat of the Greater yellownape woodpecker. This photograph of Greater yellownape was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

7. Lesser yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)

Lesser yellownape is a widely distributed woodpecker in the tropical and subtropical Asia. There are some dissimilarities of colour in both the sexes. The colour of juveniles are similar to the females, but a little bit duller. This photo was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

8. Pale-headed woodpecker (Gecinulus grantia)

Pale-headed woodpecker is a resident bird of the Indian subcontinent. This bird is a little elusive in comparison to the other woodpeckers. They are often seen drumming on bamboo in dense forest. This long distance and low light photo of Pale-headed woodpecker was clicked in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

9. Rufous woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)

This beautiful medium-sized woodpecker is often seen foraging in pair or sometimes singly. This bird normally feeds on ants; but sometimes it is seen collecting nectar from flowers. Lowland forests are the ideal habitat of Rufous woodpecker. This woodpecker is seen in many forests of Assam. This photo was clicked in the Manas National Park, Assam.

10. Great slaty woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus)

This is the largest known species of woodpecker. This woodpecker prefers primary forests as its ideal habitat. This unique looking woodpecker is a resident breeder of Indian subcontinent. The global population of this bird is declining because of habitat loss. Therefore, as per the IUCN Red list, this woodpecker is a Vulnerable species. This photograph was clicked in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam. This is one of the rarest woodpeckers of Assam.

11. Fulvous-breasted woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei)

This beautiful medium sized bird is a resident breeder of Indian subcontinent. The male has a red crown with orange forehead while the female has a black crown. Both the sexes have prominently stripped wings. This is one of the most common woodpeckers of Assam. The photograph of this Fulvous-breasted woodpecker was taken in the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam.

12. Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus)

This small sized woodpecker is found in mixed deciduous forests and gardens. This bird is often seen pecking on small branches of trees; sometimes hanging upside down. This photograph was taken in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Assam.

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