Ceylon Woodpecker
Chrysocolaptes stricklandi
About the Ceylon Woodpecker
The Ceylon woodpecker is a large, spectacular woodpecker endemic to Sri Lanka. It has a crimson-red back and wings, a white underside, a black eye stripe, and a pale yellow bill. Males have a red crown, females a black one with white spots. They are powerful drummers — their pecking can be heard from hundreds of metres away. Their heavy bills chisel into dead wood to extract beetle larvae, their primary food source.
Wilpattu Significance
Ceylon woodpeckers are residents of Wilpattu's mature forests with abundant standing dead trees. They are most often detected by their loud drumming — a rapid, resonant series of pecks. They are also vocal, with a loud, laughing 'kek- kek-kek' call that carries through the forest. Sightings require patience, as they move methodically up tree trunks and are often on the opposite side from observers.
Conservation Status
Least Concern. Endemic to Sri Lanka but depends on mature forests with dead wood. Wilpattu's protected status preserves this critical habitat.
Best Season to See
Year-round.
Best Locations in Wilpattu
- Mature forest with standing dead trees
- Manikwila
- Mahaweva
Viewing Tips
- 1Follow the sound of drumming — dead trees are the best bet
- 2Once you locate a drumming tree, wait — they often circle the trunk
- 3Early morning and late afternoon are most active
- 4Listen for their laughing call — it is distinctive and carries
Photography Tips
- A woodpecker on a vertical trunk with the red back visible is the classic shot
- Profile shot at right angles to the trunk shows the full bird
- A woodpecker with its bill in a hole, chisel-deep, captures the feeding behaviour
- Use a telephoto lens — they are wary and work high on trunks
Did You Know?
A Ceylon woodpecker can peck up to 20 times per second. Its skull has specially adapted shock-absorbing bone structure that prevents brain damage from the repeated impact. The tongue wraps around the skull to further cushion the brain.
Ready to see the Ceylon Woodpecker in the wild? Book a Wilpattu safari with expert naturalists who know exactly where and when to find them.