Stories from our field team are never dull. This time, our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team, while patrolling to monitor orangutans, managed to capture a rare moment: a pair of Olive-backed woodpeckers (Dinopium rafflesii) perched on a tree branch. Their presence in this area is a positive indicator of a healthy ecosystem rich in biodiversity.

Getting to Know Olive-backed Woodpecker

Olive-backed woodpecker is one of the woodpecker species found in Southeast Asian tropical forests, including on the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, as well as the Malay Peninsula and Thailand. These birds inhabit lowland forests, especially those with old trees that provide ideal nesting and foraging sites.

Read also: THE OLIVE-BACKED WOODPECKER

This woodpecker has a slender body, measuring about 25–28 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly a mix of black, olive-green, and grey. Males and females can be distinguished by their head coloration—the male has a striking red crown (left), while the female has a blackish head with white streaks around the face (right). Their strong, sharp beaks serve as essential tools for foraging and creating nesting holes in tree trunks.

Behaviour and Feeding Habits

Woodpeckers are known for their habit of pecking at tree trunks to search for insects hidden beneath the bark. Olive-backed woodpecker forages both individually and in pairs, using its beak to extract larvae, ants, and other small insects from decaying wood.

In addition to controlling insect populations, this species plays a crucial ecological role by creating tree cavities that later serve as nesting sites for other birds or small mammals.

Mating and Breeding Habits

Woodpeckers have fascinating courtship rituals. During the breeding season, males attract females by performing a "drum-roll" display—rapidly pecking on tree trunks to produce a distinctive sound. They also engage in visual displays, such as fanning their tails and quickly flapping their wings.

Read also: A PERFECT PAIR OF HORNBILLS

Once a female selects a mate, the pair works together to excavate a nesting hole in a dead tree trunk. Typically, woodpeckers lay two to four eggs, which are incubated by both parents in turns. The chicks remain in the nest until they are mature enough to fledge and forage independently.

Woodpeckers and Forest Sustainability

The presence of a pair of Olive-backed woodpeckers in Kehje Sewen Forest is a positive sign that this area still has old-growth trees that serve as vital habitats for various bird species and other wildlife. Sustainable forest conservation is essential to ensuring that woodpeckers and other species continue to thrive in the wild.

By preserving the forest, we are not only protecting orangutans, the primary focus of rehabilitation in Kehje Sewen, but also ensuring that species like Dinopium rafflesii can continue to flourish in their natural habitat.

Text by: Biodiversity-PRM Team, PT. RHOI in Kehje Sewen Forest, East Kalimantan