THE MALAYAN PIGMY WOODPECKER 
Although it certainly occurs in Singapore we cannot say 
anything v^ry detinite as to its status having only seen an odd 
bird here and there from time to time. 
Yet another green woodpecker with a red crested male is 
Raffles' Three-tDed woodpecker {Chloropicoldcs mfjlesii 
penmsuians). This bird also seems to be not uncommon 
locally and we have repeatedly observed it on Pulau Ubin. It 
is possibly more numerous with us than in most parts ot the 
Malay Peninsula. 
The Burmese Ptgmy woodpecker (Dry o bates canicapillus 
canicapilhts) is extremely like D, aHritus in appearance but 
just a trifle larg^er. In Singapore it has been confused with 
Ihis latter species but^ although it may from time to time occur 
here, we are coiihdent that the really common small black and 
white woodpecker hcTeahonts is (ntntns and nol eanicapUlus. 
The Malaj^an bay woodpecker {Blyihipicus ruhiginosus) is a 
very dark brown almost blackish bird with dark crimson back 
and wings : it has been recorded from Singapore but we have 
never seen it on the island. 
Three small species, the fiifvous-runiped barred woodpecker 
{Miglyptcs iristi.'^ grammiihomx}, the buff-necked barred wood- 
pecker {M'iglyptcs fukki) and the grey and huff woodpecker 
(He mil- en- Its courreius sordidus) are sufficiently described in 
the key. Chrysopfitigma miniate huml} has the top of the 
head and back^reen, a bright yellow crest on the nape, the 
throat white with bold black spots, the foreneck and breast 
chestnut, the wings crimson and the remainder of the under- 
parts green. 
The fiery-rumped woodpecker (Chrysocolapies validus 
jiranthopygins) has the top of the head and the underparts bright 
red. thf upper parts ver)- dark brown, except the runip which 
is of a very lively yellow colour. The wings are banded with 
rufous. The female is much duller in plumage. These five 
s(>ecies are not common locally. 
The great slaty woodpecker (M iiUcripiciti fuhcrulcntiis) 
is also said to occur in Singapore but we have never seen one 
on the island. Tickeel's golden-backed woodpecker (Chryso- 
cuhptes j^Niticr'siaius chcrsoJtcsus) is so like the common 
goklen-backed woodpecker (Difiopium jm'cinnise javancnse) 
that it w^ould take a sharp eye to distinguish the two species in 
the field: the latter is by far the commoner bird. 
[■59] 
