Greater Yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Greater Yellownape

Chrysophlegma flavinucha (Gould, 1834)

≈33 cmLength177 gWeight

This large olive woodpecker has conspicuous yellow on the nape and throat.

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: Thailand, India, Malaysia

Least Concern

How to identify

Field marks

  1. Conspicuous yellow on the nape and throat
  2. Dark olive upperparts and gray underparts
  3. Chestnut flight feathers with black barring
  4. Bill often looks whitish

Where and when it's recorded

Greater Yellownape has been recorded at 279 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 12 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. SattalIndia1,014 records
  2. Bukit FraserMalaysia779 records
  3. Kaeng Krachan NP – km 9 vicinityThailand525 records
More places
  1. Kaeng Krachan NPThailand500 records
  2. Mahananda WLS – Rongtong and Shivakhola ForestIndia430 records
  3. Kaeng Krachan NP – Bird's hideThailand308 records
  4. Bukit Fraser – Telekom LoopMalaysia209 records
  5. Mahananda WLS – LatpancharIndia204 records
  6. Kaeng Krachan NP – stream crossings 1–3Thailand194 records
  7. Dihing Patkai NP – SoraipungIndia192 records

Countries and regions with the most records

ThailandIndiaMalaysiaNepalChinaVietnamCambodiaBangladesh

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Greater Yellownape?

The Greater Yellownape is about ≈33 cm long and weighs around 177 g.

Where does the Greater Yellownape live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: widespread. It is most often recorded in Thailand, India and Malaysia.

When is the best time to see the Greater Yellownape?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Greater Yellownape endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Greater Yellownape as Least Concern.

What does the Greater Yellownape eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Greater Yellownape in?

It belongs to the family Woodpeckers (Picidae), order Piciformes.

At a glance

Length
≈33 cm
Weight
177 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
155 mm
Tail
113 mm
Bill
36 mm
Tarsus
26 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Subspecies · 3
  • Chrysophlegma flavinucha flavinucha ne, e India to Myanmar, w Thailand, s China, n Laos and nw Vietnam
  • Chrysophlegma flavinucha ricketti se China and Tonkin (n Vietnam)
  • Chrysophlegma flavinucha styani Hainan I. and nearby se China

Classification

Family
Woodpeckers Picidae
Genus
Chrysophlegma

Other birds in the genus Chrysophlegma

Banded WoodpeckerBanded WoodpeckerChrysophlegma miniaceumChecker-throated WoodpeckerChecker-throated WoodpeckerChrysophlegma mentaleEurasian WryneckEurasian WryneckJynx torquillaRed-throated WryneckRed-throated WryneckJynx ruficollisSpeckled PiculetSpeckled PiculetPicumnus innominatusBar-breasted PiculetBar-breasted PiculetPicumnus aurifronsLafresnaye's PiculetLafresnaye's PiculetPicumnus lafresnayiOrinoco PiculetOrinoco PiculetPicumnus pumilusGolden-spangled PiculetGolden-spangled PiculetPicumnus exilisEcuadorian PiculetEcuadorian PiculetPicumnus sclateri
Greater Yellownape

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Rejoice Gassah. ↗

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