Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

White-browed piculet

Sasia ochracea

Brian Houghton Hodgson, 1836

In Thai: นกหัวขวานจิ๋วคิ้วขาว

The white-browed piculet (Sasia ochracea) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Description

This small piculet has olive-green upper parts tinged with chestnut and grows to a length of up to 10 cm. The under parts are cinnamon or rufous, sometimes yellowish on the flanks. The stubby tail is blackish. The crown is green, and there is a white streak above and immediately behind the eye, the latter being surrounded by a ring of bare pinkish or reddish skin. Males have a small golden-yellow patch on the forehead which females lack. Juveniles are duller in colour than adults, greener above and greyer beneath. The beak is grey, the iris is red and the legs are yellow or orange, the feet having just three toes, (four being the norm in the woodpecker family). In southern Myanmar and southeastern Thailand, where their ranges overlap, the white-browed piculet can be confused with the very similar rufous piculet (Sasia abnormis), but differs in the white streak above the eye and the darker beak.

Distribution and habitat

The white-browed piculet is native to tropical southeastern Asia. Its range extends from northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh through southern China to Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. Its home is dense wet or dry forest with plenty of vines and bamboo, scrub and swampy woodlands. It is found at altitudes of up to 2600 m -2.

Ecology

It forages in the understory layer not far above the ground, pecking and probing with its sharp beak. Its diet consists of small insects, bark beetles, ants, termites, spiders and other small invertebrates. It often forages in pairs or may join small flocks of mixed species, sometimes descending to the ground, where it may hop for short distances.

This bird uses pieces of bamboo to make its nest. It picks up bits of broken bamboo with its feet, and uses its beak to pull away partially broken fragments. Breeding takes place between March and July.

Status

The white-browed piculet is described as a fairly common bird and has a very extensive range. No particular threats to this bird are known and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the population is believed to be stable. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this bird's conservation status as being of "least concern".

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Category / Seasonal Status

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal status: Resident or presumed resident

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Piciformes
Family
Picidae
Genus
Sasia
Species
Sasia ochracea

Common names

  • Thai: นกหัวขวานจิ๋วคิ้วขาว

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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White-browed piculet

Range Map

Distribution map of White-browed piculet, Sasia ochracea in Thailand
  • Chae Son National Park
  • Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai
  • Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Lang
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Doi Phu Kha National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Khao Laem National Park
  • Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Khlong Lan National Park
  • Khun Tan District, Chiang Rai
  • Kromluang Chumphon Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kui Buri National Park
  • Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mae Moei National Park
  • Mae Ping National Park
  • Mae Wong National Park
  • Muak Lek District, Saraburi
  • Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai
  • Mueang Chumphon District, Chumphon
  • Mueang Lampang District, Lampang
  • Mueang Tak District, Tak
  • Nam Nao National Park
  • Nong Bong Khai Non-Hunting Area
  • Op Khan National Park
  • Pai District, Mae Hong Son
  • Pha Daeng National Park
  • Phan District, Chiang Rai
  • Phu Foi Lom National Park
  • Phu Kradueng National Park
  • Phu Langka National Park
  • Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park
  • Phu Suan Sai National Park
  • Phu Wiang National Park
  • Ramkhamhaeng National Park
  • Sangkhom District, Nong Khai
  • Si Satchanalai National Park
  • Sri Nakarin Dam National Park
  • Taksin Maharat National Park
  • Tat Mok National Park
  • Tham Chao Ram Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Tham Sakoen National Park
  • Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
  • Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Wang Mai Forest Restoration Project
Range map of Sasia ochracea in Thailand