Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Original description previously attributed to McClelland, but correct author is Horsfield (Dickinson 2003a). Closely related to G. viridis. Recent observations and several specimens reinforce probability that a narrow hybrid zone between the two exists in N Thailand and, presumably, N Laos (Round et al. 2012). Proposed form aristus (NE India) synonymized with nominate; poilanei (Cochinchina, in S Vietnam) is inseparable from indochinensis. Three subspecies recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
high |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be very rare to uncommon (del Hoyo et al. 2002), while the population in China has been estimated at < c.100 breeding pairs (Brazil 2009). This species is considered to have a high dependency on forest habitat, and tree cover is estimated to have declined by 18.1% within its mapped range over the past 10 years (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). It is therefore tentatively suspected that this rate of cover loss may have led to a decline of between 1-19% in the species' population size over the same time frame, with a best estimate of reduction being 15-19%.
Trend justification: .
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pale-headed-woodpecker-gecinulus-grantia on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.
