Picid In Focus: Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis

Red-throated Wryneck is one of only two species in the genus Jynx. It is also sometimes called Rufous-necked, Red-breasted or Red-necked Wryneck. As is the case with its close Eurasian relative, this species does not excavate its own nesting holes but rather uses the holes of other picids or natural cavities. It occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and is a polytypic species with 3 races usually recognised. Photo taken by Warwick Tarboton at Wakkerstroom, South Africa.

Picid In Focus: Streak-breasted Woodpecker Picus viridanus (2)

Here is another shot of the same male Streak-breasted Woodpecker shown below (photographed at Air Hitam Dalam, mainland Penang, Malaysia, by Tan Choo Eng in August 2011). The streaked throat and upper chest show very well here. 

Picid In Focus: Streak-breasted Woodpecker Picus viridanus

This typical Picus species is very similar in plumage to Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus. Indeed, unless good views are obtained these two species can be hard to separate. This male (note red crown) Streak-breasted Woodpecker was photographed at Air Hitam Dalam, mainland Penang, Malaysia, by Tan Choo Eng in August 2011. Note the streaked throat and upper chest (Laced has a plain, unmarked buff-olive throat).

Picid In Focus: Buff-necked Woodpecker female

This south-east Asian species Meiglyptes tukki is polytypic with five subspecies recognised: nominate tukki (very south of Myanmar, peninsula Thailand and Malaysia, Sumatra and some adjacent islands and northern Borneo), infuscatus (Nias Island off north-west Sumatra), batu (Batu Island, off western Sumatra), pulonis (Banggi Island, off northern Borneo) and percnerpes (southern Borneo). The sexes are very similar: male has a red malar stripe which female lacks. This female tukki race was snapped at Bukit Wang, Jitra, Kedah, Peninsula Malaysia, August 2011, Gerard Gorman.

New Book on the Black Woodpecker Published

I'd like to announce that my new book The Black Woodpecker - A monograph on Dryocopus martius is now out. ISBN-13: 978-84-96553-79-8. Published by Lynx Edicions. More details can be found on their website at Black Woodpecker monograph.