I saw this woodpecker but twice, both times at the Cocoa Research Station. A female taken from a dead tree in the cocoa may have been just finishing nesting activities, judging from the size of the ova. A pair seen feeding on the ground near a brush pile in secondary forest was collected. The stomachs contained ants.
Dendrocopos canicapillus aurantiiventris (Salvadori): Oriental Pygmy Woodpecker.—Specimens, 2: Cocoa Research Station: sex?, July 22, 1962, MCT 2635; ♂ testis 3 × 2 mm., 23.5 gm., molting, August 25, 1962, MCT 2807.
On July 22 four individuals were feeding on dead trees in the cocoa. They made a cheep cheep sound, rattling calls, and drummed. On August 25, 1962, two were feeding in dead trees in the cocoa. The testes of specimen MCT 2807 were probably regressing since it was beginning the molt.
Meiglyptes tristis micropternus Hesse: Fulvous-rumped Barred Woodpecker.—Specimens, 2: Cocoa Research Station: ♀, 31.7 gm., July 7, 1962, MCT 2607; ♂, May 28, 1963, ADG 115.
Compared with M. tukki, this species was comparatively rare. I saw two on July 7 working in a living tree some 15 feet above the ground. The tree was only 20 feet high and had dense foliage. The birds gave a rattling call note of about two seconds duration; it sounded like a typical woodpecker call. The single call note can be rendered cheet. They were also heard drumming, but only softly. The stomachs contained ants, which probably are what the two woodpeckers were feeding on in the green tree.
Meiglyptes tukki tukki (Lesson): Buff-necked Barred Woodpecker.—Specimens, 13: Cocoa Research Station: ♂ testis 2 × 1 mm., heavy molt, July 10, 1962, MCT 2614; ♀, 53.3 gm., July 28, 1962, MCT 2677; ♂, 51.5 gm., July 28, 1962, MCT 2679; ♀, 48.7 gm., July 28, 1962, MCT 2678; ♂, December 2, 1962, MCT 3423; ♀, December 2, 1962, MCT 3424; ♀, December 2, 1962, MCT 3425. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: ♀, October 26, 1962, MCT 3153. Telipok: ♀, March 24, 1962, ADG 37. Agriculture Oil Palm Research Station: ♀, October 4, 1963, ADG 292; ♀, August 15, 1963, ADG 238; ♀, August 14, 1963, ADG 234. Pintasan Agriculture Station: ♀, October 17, 1963, ADG 313.
This was the most common woodpecker at the Cocoa Research Station. A flock of four was seen on July 28, 1962, and on December 2, 1962, I took three simultaneously in one mist net. The species has flocking tendencies. Calls heard were a typical woodpecker rattle.
Dinopium rafflesi dulitense Delacour: Olive-backed Three-toed Woodpecker.—Specimens, 4: Cocoa Research Station: ♂ testis 11 × 7 mm., July 12, 1962, MCT 2620; ♂, September 6, 1962, MCT 2879. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: ♂, October 20, 1962, MCT 3097. Oil Palm Research Station: ♂, August 12, 1963, ADG 227.
The species was taken in both primary and secondary forest. The specimen collected at the Cocoa Research Station on July 12 suggests that the species breeds there.