{Stamp Collection 2013} : Woodpecker

Found in primary and secondary rainforest, forest edges, nearby plantations and sometimes gardens, the Banded woodpecker often sits high on branch, calling regularly throughout the morning with a penetrating, descending “peew”. This 25 cm long woodpecker feeds high on large branches and sometimes low in scrubs, mainly on ants. The nest hole is excavated in a dead tree. The bird is readily identified with its red crest and yellow tip, red wings, dull greenish mantle with pale wavy barring together with chestnut under-parts marked with whitish barring diagnostic. The male distinguished from the female with its red molar patch and a more distinct barring. The Banded woodpecker is fairly common resident in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, Brunei, but less common in Thailand and Myanmar. 

The Lesser Yellownape is a jungle species found in the mountain forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Picus chlorolopus is also widespread in the Oriental region excluding Hong Kong and Cambodia. As in most woodpeckers, this species has straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl feet. The long tounge can be darted forward to capture insect. The Lesser Yellowpane is a considerably a large species at 27cm in length, though not as large as Greater Yellowpane which can grow up to 34cm. The upper parts are green, apart from the bright yellow tufted nape. The neck and brest are green and belly is whitish, finely barred with green. The rum and tail are blackish. The adult male Lesser Yellownape has full red crown and malar stripe.