A female fulvous-breasted woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei) is observed drilling into a neem tree through the leaves of a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 27, 2026. The medium-sized species (17 to 20 cm) in the Picidae family is found in forests at altitudes ranging from 0 to 2800 meters in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. These woodpeckers are non-migratory residents, with populations living at higher altitudes descending to lower elevations during winter. The fulvous-breasted woodpecker is ecologically significant as a key indicator of healthy tropical and subtropical lowland forests, open woodlands, and well-treed rural gardens across South and Southeast Asia. It forages actively on tree trunks and branches to consume wood-boring beetles, larvae, and ants, naturally regulating insect populations. It excavates tree cavities for nesting, which later provide shelter for secondary cavity-nesting birds and small mammals, serving as a baseline marker for local arboreal health and secondary forest regeneration. The female is notable for its sexual dimorphism, featuring an all-black crown compared to the male's red crown and orange forehead.
Editorial use only Contact your sales representative for commercial and promotional uses.License this clip
More footage filed by NurPhoto videographers.