Meiglyptes
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Tukki Woodpecker ( Meiglyptes tukki ) |
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| Swainson , 1837 |
Meiglyptes is a genus of birds inthe woodpecker family (Picidae). The genus comprises three small species that differ from the usual habitus of the woodpeckers and each inhabit parts of Southeast Asia. All species are tied to the forest. As far as is known, the diet consists of ants, termites and other insects. Two of the three species arestill classified as harmlessby the IUCN (“least concern”), the third species, the Tukkispecht ( Meiglyptes tukki ), is listed by the IUCN as a type of the warning list (“near threatended”) due to persistent habitat destruction.
description
The three species are small, rounded woodpeckers with a thin neck, a relatively small head and a rather short tail. The relatively long beak is bent downwards at the ridge, pointed at a point and quite narrow at the base, the nostrils are only partially covered by feathers. The fourth (outer) toe is as long as the other two front toes.
All in all, these woodpeckers are colored quite contrastingly in brown, black and white. In terms of coloration, they show a low level of sexual dimorphism : males have a narrow red streak or spot that the females lack.
Systematics
The genus includes three types:
- Brown- rumped woodpecker ( Meiglyptes tristis ) ( Horsfield 1821)
- Dommel woodpecker ( Meiglyptes jugularis ) ( Blyth 1845)
- Tukkispecht ( Meiglyptes tukki ) ( Lesson 1839)
literature
- Hans Winkler , David Christie and David Nurney: Woodpeckers. A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets, and Wrynecks of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge 1995, ISBN 0-395-72043-5 , pp. 13, 160-161 and 386-388.
