Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Small woodpecker of open forest and forest edge. Note size, pale eyes, and broad-striped head pattern. Darkness of the crown varies; palest in northern and peninsular India and darkest in Sri Lanka. Where it overlaps with Gray-capped Woodpecker, note the more “blocky” head pattern, pale eyes, and white-spotted tail of Brown-capped. Gives a short chittering trill that rises and falls quickly.

In Sri Lanka, the Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker primarily inhabits lowland deciduous and evergreen forests, including areas of secondary growth, often found in open forests and forest edges, with sightings extending up to around 1200 meters in elevation; it can be seen in areas like rubber plantations near Colombo as well.

In Sri Lanka, the Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker primarily feeds on small invertebrates like ants, termites, and beetles, often foraging high in the canopy of trees, with a diet that may also include fruits, berries, and flower nectar; essentially, a diet similar to other regions where this species is found.