This record was submitted by Reuben Braddock on 13 Nov 2021. All user submissions will be reviewed by the Records Committee. Entries listed here may be edited for brevity and clarity while the original record is left unchanged.
This record was submitted to the Records Committee for review.
The Records Committee began deliberating on this record.
The Records Committee completed its review and finalised its verdict.
| Species | Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 10028 |
| Date | 15 Dec 2005 |
| Location | Bukit Timah Nature Reserve |
| Count | 1 individual |
| Age | Adult |
| Related records | 1068, 1155, 1156, 1157, 1158, 1159, 1160 |
| Date added | 13 Nov 2021 |
| Background |
|---|
| Detailed descriptions of the observation submitted to the Records Committee, with features including, quote: "a predominantly green and red woodpecker, red crown and wings, with green back and belly, and striking yellow crest also noted"; "the belly of the bird I had seen was completely green with no barring". |
| Vote results | For: 8 Wild: 8 |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Accepted / Wild (Verifiable) |
| Identification |
|---|
| I was sitting on a bench at Gaharu Hut and observed a bird fly onto a low branch (approx 1m above the ground) approximately 3 metres from me, perched for ~5 seconds before diving back into the undergrowth. This was enough time to observe the key features well - a predominantly green and red woodpecker, red crown and wings, with green back and belly, and striking yellow crest also noted. At the time I did not know what species it was - I checked my bird book (Birds: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, by Morten Strange) and could not find a good fit. The nearest species was Banded Woodpecker but I couldn’t reconcile the belly colour - the belly of the bird I had seen was completely green with no barring. I left it as unidentified in my notes while noting its similarity to Banded Woodpecker. I then forgot about it for a couple of years until I read some discussion on the Wildbird Singapore Yahoo group about a lone Crimson-winged Woodpecker that had been seen sporadically at BTNR over a period of some years. I checked out some photos of the bird online and realised that this was the bird I had seen. |
| Habitat/behaviour |
|---|
| As noted above, seen perched briefly and then in flight briefly as it flew back into the low trees and bushes near Gaharu Hut. |
| Viewing conditions |
|---|
| Fine weather. Low light conditions due to the fairly dense canopy, but close proximity to the bird meant there was no difficulty in clearly observing key features and colouring. |
| Observer's experience |
|---|
| None, hence the delay in obtaining a positive identification |
| Observer's experience w/similar species |
|---|
| None. At the time I had not even seen Banded Woodpecker before although have since observed this species on multiple occasions |
Bird Society of Singapore. (2021). Record 10028: Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://records.singaporebirds.com/record/10028/.