Pygmy Woodpecker, KL, Malaysia (1 Viewer)

Laurie Knight

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2015

• #1

G'day,

This chap was in the port carpark. Is it a Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker?

Regards, Laurie.

 

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viator

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2015

• #2

Yes

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 14, 2015

• #3

I tried to find the Sunda Woodpecker, aka. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker in my woodpecker guide, "Woodpeckers, An Identification Guide to the Woodpeckers of the World", Winkler, Christie & Nurney. I could not seem to find it? Is the binominal for this bird, Picoides moluccensis or has that been changed?

 

foresttwitcher

Virtually unknown member

• Nov 14, 2015

• #4

Larry Lade said:

Is the binominal for this bird, Picoides moluccensis or has that been changed?

Click to expand...

Larry, Opus has it as Dendrocopos moluccensis.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 14, 2015

• #5

Thanks Pete.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 16, 2015

• #6

Well it has been quite a search for me! I did finally find out (I think) what I was looking for in the bird guide I mentioned above, "Woodpeckers of the World". On page 88, on plate # 26 I found illustrations/text of Picoides moluccensis, aka. Brown-capped Woodpecker.

This guide list five (5) subspecies of the bird: P.m. nanus, P.m. cinereigula, P.m. gymnopthalmus, P.m. moluccensis, P.m. grandis.

I suppose the Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker/Sunda Woodpecker, Dendrocopos moluccensis) may be one of these subspecies.

*Woodpeckers, don't you just love'm or hate'm!

** I just like being able to put a name to a bird. Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with the lumping/splitting which seems to just keep going on!

 

foresttwitcher

Virtually unknown member

• Nov 16, 2015

• #7

Larry, again according to Opus the current two sub-species of Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker & three sub-species of Brown-capped Woodpecker were once considered conspecific.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 16, 2015

• #8

OK, I think I got it now. (Wonder when they will be changing it again.)

 

Bryon Wright

Well-known member

• Nov 19, 2015

• #9

This investigation was worthwhile. Sunda pygmy woodpecker, must figure on a lot of revised lists. It seems to have a penchant for even poor quality, especially coastal scrub, with nearby remnant mangrove patches, in both peninsula and island Malaysia. I have even found nesting birds in the stumps of large introduced acacia trees. Never see it in full climax, secondary forest? Still unsure what role brown-capped woodpecker, now plays, ecologically.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Nov 19, 2015

• #10

Clements changed the name in the 4th Edition
Clements 3rd edition:
Brown-capped Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)
Clements 4th edition:
Sunda Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)

The IOC still name it
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)
.
.
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.04:
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)

Sibley and Monroe have called it Sundra Woodpecker since 1993
Sunda Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)

Ebird have changed it in version 1.54

eBird version 1.53:
Brown-capped Woodpecker (Sunda) ( Dendrocopos moluccensis [moluccensis Group])
eBird version 1.54:
Sunda Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis)

Birdlife checklist changed from Picoides to Dendrocopus in Feb 2014

Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014):
Sunda Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos moluccensis) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014):
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker ( Picoides moluccensis)

So the majority of authorities now go with Sunda and Dendrocopus,....till the next time:-O

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 19, 2015

• #11

Maybe we should just call it the black and white woodpecker with the brownish cap! Have you seen one? ;-)
Oh well, I guess it keeps life interesting! What will be the nomenclature a month or two from now!