Friday 25 November 2011

Genus: Picumnus

This genus consists of 26 piculet species. These include some of the smallest picids in the world. Photo of a male Lafresnaye's Piculet Picumnus lafresnayi taken by Pete Ferrera in Southern Ecuador, November 2011.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Picid in Focus: Black-rumped Flameback

Female Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense. Puncticolle race. This is a female as the fore-crown is black dotted white and only the hind-crown and crest red. Chennai, India, November 2011, Gerard Gorman.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Picid in Focus: Bearded Woodpecker

Male Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus. This is the largest woodland-dwelling woodpecker in Africa. Rather shy, when disturbed or directly approached, invariably flying some distance before alighting again. Often first located by virtue of its rather distinctive contact tapping and drumming. Outside the breeding season usually seen foraging alone. Sometimes placed in a a separate genus ThripiasPhoto taken in South Africa by Warwick Tarboton.