Speckled Piculet

The speckled piculet is a minute member of the woodpecker family, weighing about 11 g. It has olive-green upperparts, creamy underparts densely spotted black, two pale facial stripes and a dark band through the eye. Males show orange and brown on the forecrown, whereas females lack the bright orange. Its tiny size, short tail and fine bill differ markedly from larger woodpeckers, although its clinging and climbing movements are recognisably woodpecker-like (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife Institute of India data).

It ranges from the Himalayas through southern China and mainland Southeast Asia to Sumatra and Borneo. Habitats include humid lowland and montane forest, bamboo, dense undergrowth and secondary growth. Pairs work along thin branches, sometimes hanging upside down while searching bark and twigs for ants, termites, larvae and caterpillars. Both adults excavate a small tree cavity and share incubation and chick care. Published species accounts report clutches of two to five white eggs and incubation lasting 11–14 days (Oiseaux.net; Birds of India species account).