Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Leiopicus mahrattensis (Latham, 1801)

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Leiopicus mahrattensis, is a woodpecker of the Oriental Region, where it is widespread, and it occurs in the Indian subcontinent. It is the only species in the genus Leiopicus. First described by Latham in 1801, it belongs to the Picidae. The bird is a medium-small pied woodpecker with a pale head. Its upperparts are black with white spotting and barring, while the underparts are dark with dingy white streaking and a red belly patch. It also shows irregular brown patches on the cheek and neck. The female has a yellowish crown and nape, and the male has a scarlet nape and yellow fore-crown.

Order

Piciformes

Family

Picidae — Woodpeckers

Breeding range

Oriental Region: widespread