Japanese pygmy woodpecker

The Japanese pygmy woodpecker or simply pygmy woodpecker is a species of woodpecker. It is found in coniferous and deciduous forests in Russia, China, Korea and Japan. This species has also been placed in the genus Dendrocopos or Picoides. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

East Asia

Typical Environment

Occurs across much of Japan, the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East. It inhabits deciduous and mixed conifer-broadleaf forests, woodland edges, riparian belts, orchards, and mature urban parks. Prefers areas with ample deadwood and small-diameter branches for gleaning. It tolerates fragmented woodland and suburban greenspaces, provided trees are present.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size13–15 cm

Wing Span24–27 cm

Male Weight0.026 kg

Female Weight0.024 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

One of the smallest woodpeckers in East Asia, it often forages on thin branches where larger woodpeckers rarely venture. It adapts well to parks and temple groves, so it can be seen even in urban greenspaces. Drumming is soft and brief compared with larger woodpeckers, and it frequently joins mixed-species flocks with tits in winter.

Gallery

Pygmy woodpecker in South Korea

Behaviour

Temperament

quiet, active and wary

Flight Pattern

undulating with short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season, forming small family groups after fledging. Both sexes excavate nest cavities in soft or decaying wood and share incubation and chick-rearing. In winter it often joins mixed-species flocks with tits and nuthatches while foraging.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Gives thin, high-pitched see-see and pip notes, often in quick series. Drumming is soft, short, and infrequent compared with larger woodpeckers, and may be easily missed in background noise.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Japanese quail

The Japanese quail, also known as the coturnix quail, is a species of Old World quail found in East Asia. First considered a subspecies of the common quail, it is now considered as a separate species. The Japanese quail has played an active role in the lives of humanity since the 12th century, and continues to play major roles in industry and scientific research. Where it is found, the species is abundant across most of its range. Currently, there are a few true breeding mutations of the Japanese quail. The varieties currently found in the United States include Pharaoh, Italian, Manchurian, Tibetan, Rosetta, along with the following mutations: sex-linked brown, fee, roux, silver, andalusian, blue/blau, white winged pied, progressive pied, albino, calico, sparkly, as well as non-color mutations such as celadon.

Japanese sparrowhawk

The Japanese sparrowhawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. The bird is known by many alternative names such as the Japanese lesser, Asiatic, or Eastern sparrowhawk. This species is a small raptor with broader and rounder wings and a shorter tail. Its total length measures 23–30 centimetres (9.1–11.8 in). It has a dark back and whitish underside with brown-grey barring and red-brown colouring on the sides in males, and with heavier brown barring on the abdomen in females. Both sexes have a stripe across the throat, but its more obvious in the female. Is it typically identified by its appearance, but occasionally produces a chattering kiki-kik-kik... sound. This species generally breeds in parts of Russia, Korea, Japan, and China. There are three subspecies of Japanese sparrowhawk that differ by distribution and appearance. The species is globally listed as least concern, although it is listed as endangered in Japan and protected in China.

Japanese thrush

The Japanese thrush is a species of bird in the thrush family Turdidae. The species is also known as the grey thrush or the Japanese grey thrush. The species was once split into two subspecies, with birds breeding in China being treated as the subspecies T. c. lateus,, but today differences are attributed to natural variation and the species is treated as being monotypic.