Scaly-bellied Woodpecker
Picus squamatus Vigors, 1831
≈35 cmLength170 gWeight
This large green woodpecker has prominent scaling from the breast to around the vent.
Busiest months: May–June · Most records: India, Pakistan, China
Looks like Streak-throated Woodpecker
How to identify
Field marks
- Prominent scaling from the breast to around the vent
- No streaks on the throat or upper breast
- Conspicuous tail barring
- Large, pale bill
Male, female and young
The male has a red crown; the female has a blackish crown.
Similar species
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: May–June · Most records: India, Pakistan, China
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker has been recorded at 17 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 4 countries and regions.
Records by month Northern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- PangotIndia106 records
- Munsyari – Bheema WodeyarIndia86 records
- SattalIndia51 records
More places
- Margalla Hills Trail 5Pakistan28 records
- Talhaar Ridge - Margalla HillsPakistan24 records
- Annapurna Conservation Area - Ghode Pani and PoonhillNepal17 records
- GyirongChina13 records
- Gyirong – Jifu VillageChina12 records
- Neelan BothoPakistan7 records
- Langtang National Park - Syabru to Lama HotelNepal5 records
Countries and regions with the most records
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 scaly-bellied woodpecker (Picus squamatus) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and adjoining regions, ranging across Afghanistan, Iran, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker?
The Scaly-bellied Woodpecker is about ≈35 cm long and weighs around 170 g.
Where does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker live?
Its breeding range: Palearctic: south-central Asia. It is most often recorded in India, Pakistan and China.
When is the best time to see the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in May and June (Northern Hemisphere).
Is the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker as Least Concern.
What does the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker eat?
Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.
What family is the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker in?
It belongs to the family Woodpeckers (Picidae), order Piciformes.
At a glance
- Length
- ≈35 cm
- Weight
- 170 g
- Habitat
- Forest
- Diet
- Insects & other invertebrates
- Lifestyle
- Perches in trees
- Migration
- Resident (barely migrates)
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 161 mm
- Tail
- 120 mm
- Bill
- 46 mm
- Tarsus
- 28 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Palearctic: south-central Asia
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Woodpeckers Picidae
- Genus
- Picus
Other birds in the genus Picus
Lesser YellownapePicus chlorolophus
Crimson-winged WoodpeckerPicus puniceus
Streak-breasted WoodpeckerPicus viridanus
Laced WoodpeckerPicus vittatus
Streak-throated WoodpeckerPicus xanthopygaeus
Japanese Green WoodpeckerPicus awokera
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Iberian Green WoodpeckerPicus sharpei
Levaillant's WoodpeckerPicus vaillantii
Red-collared WoodpeckerPicus rabieri
Black-headed WoodpeckerPicus erythropygius
Grey-headed WoodpeckerPicus canus
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Uday Agashe. ↗
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In other languages
- EnglishScaly-bellied Woodpecker
- 简体中文鳞腹绿啄木鸟
- 繁體中文鱗腹綠啄木
- 日本語ヒマラヤアオゲラ
- DeutschSchuppengrünspecht
- FrançaisPic écaillé
- EspañolPito escamoso
- Portuguêspeto-escamoso
- ItalianoPicchio panciasquamata
- NederlandsGeschubde Groene Specht
- РусскийЧешуйчатый дятел
- Svenskafjällig gröngöling
- DanskSkælbuget Grønspætte
- Polskidzięcioł łuskobrzuchy