The ashy woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding islands in Indonesia. There are two subspecies, the nominate race M. f. fulvus, which is found in northern Sulawesi, the islands of Lembeh and Manterawu, and the archipelagos of Togian and Banggai; and M. f. wallacei, from southern Sulawesi and the islands of Muna and Buton. The second subspecies is named for the collector and scientist Alfred Russel Wallace.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs on the island of Sulawesi and adjacent islands such as Lembeh, Togian, Banggai, Muna, and Buton. It occupies primary and mature secondary lowland to montane forests, forest edges, and tall secondary growth with substantial large trees and snags. The species regularly works large trunks, branches, and deadwood, and tolerates selectively logged forest if big trees remain. It is generally absent from open farmland and urban areas, favoring continuous or semi-continuous canopy.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The ashy woodpecker is a large, slate-grey woodpecker endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate M. f. fulvus in the north and M. f. wallacei in the south, the latter named after Alfred Russel Wallace. Males show red on the head, while females lack red, making the species sexually dimorphic. It forages methodically on large trunks and snags, often revealing hidden ants and beetle larvae.
Temperament
wary and methodical
Flight Pattern
undulating flight with strong, direct wingbeats between glides
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. Pairs excavate nest cavities high in large trees and defend territories with drumming and calls. Likely monogamous, with both sexes participating in excavation and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include loud, ringing, nasal notes carried through the canopy. Drumming is powerful and resonant on large snags, used for communication and territorial display.
Plumage
Largely uniform ashy-grey with darker wings and tail; minimal barring, giving a smooth, smoky appearance.
Diet
Primarily consumes wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, termites, and other insects found under bark and within deadwood. It uses powerful blows and probing to extract prey from large trunks and branches. Occasionally gleans from epiphytes and may take other arthropods exposed on bark.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on sizable trees in mature forest, along edges, and in selectively logged areas where large snags remain. Often forages from mid-story to canopy level, favoring dead or decaying wood.
