Grey-headed Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker and Laced Woodpecker

Grey-headed Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, and Laced Woodpecker are three similar-looking woodpeckers but of different species. Can you spot the difference?

  • Grey-headed has unmarked olive-green underparts.
  • The Streak-breasted Woodpecker has a blackish moustache that is usually less bold, a greener streaked throat distinguished by greener throat which is often streaked, greener breast with bold whitish scaling.
  • Laced Woodpecker has a blackish moustache which is slightly speckled whitish.

Grey-headed Woodpecker on the left. Streak-breasted Woodpecker on the right. Both taken in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand in April.

Grey-headed Woodpecker
Streak-breasted Woodpecker
Streak-breasted Woodpecker, female in Kaeng Krachan National Park Thailand
Female Laced Woodpecker was photographed in Pasir Ris Park in Singapore in November.

3 thoughts on “Grey-headed Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker and Laced Woodpecker

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  1. Your ‘Laced Woodpecker’ from kaengkrachan is in fact Picus canus, Grey-headed Woodpecker. There are no confirmed records of Laced from the forests of Kaeng Krachan, although Streak-breasted is misidentified aplenty. And, as in this case, seemingly, Gray-headed Woodpecker.

    1. You are right about the Grey-headed Woodpecker. It is not Laced Woodpecker. Laced woodpecker was taken in Singapore. Thank you for pointing out 🙏

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