Alternative name: Checker-throated Yellownape
- Chrysophlegma mentale
Picus mentalis
Includes: Javan Yellownape
Identification
Photo © by the late Dr Manjeet Singh
F.R.I.M., Sg BuloH, Selangor, Malaysia, February 2008
Size-28cm. Medium sized woodpecker with red wings. Note lack of red on head
- nuchal crest with hind part yellow, extent subspecies dependent
- sides of head and collar chestnut, extent subspecies dependent
- throat streaked black and white
- plumage bright olive green without barring
- wings red with black bars, the latter more pronounced towards the outer primaries. These are largely black with red spots on the outer vanes.
- lesser coverts red with olive leading edge
- tail black
- bill mostly pale-medium grey, dark tipped
Throat markings, red wings, olive body and lack of red on head diagnostic.
Male: Malar area streaked black and white (as throat).
Female: Malar area, sides of head and collar chestnut.
Distribution
South-east Asia: found from Tenasserim (Myanmar), and the Malay Peninsula to the Greater Sundas.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in the genus Picus.
The subspecies may be treated as distinct species, in which case subspecies humii becomes "Checker-throated Yellownape" (strict sense), C. humii, and mentale "Javan Yellownape", C. mentale. The split is based on stable plumage differences [2].
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- C. m. humii: "Checker-throated Yellownape". Southern Myanmar and southern peninsular Thailand to Sumatra, Borneo and Bangka Island. [Smaller, paler, brighter. Yellow of crest extends to whole of (rear) crest, chestnut more restricted and olive of face more obvious. Bill appears slightly larger.]
- C. m. mentale: "Javan Yellownape". Evergreen and moss forests of western Java. [larger, duller. Chestnut extends up side of face to fore part of crest (yellow restricted to rear although extent often hard to see). Olive of face less distinct. Relatively smaller bill. White of throat streaking less prominent.]
Habitat
Forests and forest edges, landward fringes of mangroves.
Behaviour
Frequents the middle and lower storeys. Drums in short bursts.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Eaton, JA, B van Balen, NW Brickle, FE Rheindt 2021. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago (Greater Sundas and Wallacea), Second Edition. Lynx Editions. ISBN978-84-16728-44-2
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Checker-throated Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Checker-throated_Woodpecker
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
