A Speckled piculet foraging on roadside
A very small bird in the family of Piciformes - a family of birds that also includes woodpeckers and Wrynecks. This bird around 9-10.5 cms long is sometimes noted as the smallest woodpecker in the world. They behave like woodpeckers pecking on trees and picking out insects, grub, ants and maybe foots off the trees. We can hear them drumming as well many a time much like a woodpecker.
The birds are found in several pockets of Indian forests from South to North and Eastern India. I had seen many times, but getting a decent shot is very hard due to their small size. They climb trees like Nuthatches looking for insects, but then are quite shy and fly off very fast while trying to photograph. The piculets are generally seen in pairs and this year, have seen in all the 3 birding trips I undertook in March / April / May. I was lucky to sight them in a hunting party recently - sight around 8-10 of them in a tree.
This was shot on the roadside slopes in Himachal Pradesh - they are quite common there.
Many thanks in advance for your views, feedback and faves. Much appreciated.
A Speckled piculet foraging on roadside
A very small bird in the family of Piciformes - a family of birds that also includes woodpeckers and Wrynecks. This bird around 9-10.5 cms long is sometimes noted as the smallest woodpecker in the world. They behave like woodpeckers pecking on trees and picking out insects, grub, ants and maybe foots off the trees. We can hear them drumming as well many a time much like a woodpecker.
The birds are found in several pockets of Indian forests from South to North and Eastern India. I had seen many times, but getting a decent shot is very hard due to their small size. They climb trees like Nuthatches looking for insects, but then are quite shy and fly off very fast while trying to photograph. The piculets are generally seen in pairs and this year, have seen in all the 3 birding trips I undertook in March / April / May. I was lucky to sight them in a hunting party recently - sight around 8-10 of them in a tree.
This was shot on the roadside slopes in Himachal Pradesh - they are quite common there.
Many thanks in advance for your views, feedback and faves. Much appreciated.