Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus canicapillus (Blyth, 1845)

14–16 cmLength26 gWeight

This small, dark woodpecker has a gray crown, black eyestripe, white supercilium and white cheeks.

Busiest months: December–February · Most records: China, India, Thailand

Least Concern

How to identify

Field marks

Dark gray crown
Prominent black eyestripe; broad white supercilium and cheeks
Black-and-white barring on the back
Dark buff underparts with conspicuous dark streaks

Male, female and young

The male has red on the nape.

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: December–February · Most records: China, India, Thailand

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker has been recorded at 946 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 15 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Nantou – Jiji Endemic Species Research InstituteTaiwan (China)1,440 records
Wildlife Institute of IndiaIndia1,326 records
Taichung – Taichung Metropolitan ParkTaiwan (China)1,277 records

More places

TmatboeyCambodia893 records
Pingtung – Pingtung University of Science and TechnologyTaiwan (China)734 records
Doi Pha Hom Pok NP – Doi Lang (W), AKA Doi San JuThailand621 records
Chiayi – NCYU Lantan CampusTaiwan (China)616 records
Beijing Botanical GardenChina512 records
Taksin Maharat NP – headquarters vicinityThailand495 records
Nameri National Park & SurroundingsIndia495 records

Countries and regions with the most records

China India Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Nepal South Korea Malaysia

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

About

The grey-capped pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus) is an Asian bird species of the woodpecker family (Picidae). It has a subspecies, Yungipicus canicapillus doerriesi, located primarily in Manchuria, eastern Siberia, and Korea. Some taxonomic authorities continue to place this species in the genus Dendrocopos or Picoides.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker?

The Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker is about 14–16 cm long and weighs around 26 g.

Where does the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker live?

Its breeding range: Oriental, Palearctic: East Asia to northern India, Sumatra and Borneo. It is most often recorded in China, India and Thailand.

When is the best time to see the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker?

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

Is the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker as Least Concern.

What does the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker in?

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

At a glance

Length: 14–16 cm
Weight: 26 g
Habitat: Forest
Diet: Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle: Perches in trees
Migration: Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 83 mm
Tail: 42 mm
Bill: 17 mm
Tarsus: 14 mm

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

Range

Oriental, Palearctic: East Asia to northern India, Sumatra and Borneo

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Subspecies · 4

Yungipicus canicapillus doerriesi se Siberia, Manchuria (ne China) and Korean Pen.
Yungipicus canicapillus scintilliceps e China
Yungipicus canicapillus kaleensis c, wc, s China and Taiwan (China)
Yungipicus canicapillus swinhoei Hainan I. (off s China)