Great Slaty Woodpecker (Muelleripicus pulverulentus)
Order: PICIFORMES
Family: PICIDAE Woodpeckers
Scientific name: Muelleripicus pulverulentus
English name: Great Slaty Woodpecker
Characteristic: Size 50 cm. Our largest woodpecker. It is overall greyish in appearance with small pale spots on head. Chin to throat are pale yellow. A male has a small reddish patch at bill base, which is lacking in a female.
Distribution: Northern India, SW China , the Greater Sundas, and SE Asia.
Habitat: Dipterocarp forest and dry evergreen forest, where stands on large trees are existing.
Habit: Clinging vertically on a tree trunk and chiselling for boring grubs with its pointed bill. Breeding season is between April-May, a pair nest in a large tree hollow and a female lays a clutch of 3-4 eggs.
Status: Extremely scarce in Sakaerat area, where it is always seen actively foraging in cepuscular hours. Generally, a few can still be found in natural forest, especially in the north. Resident bird.
