Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker or Indian Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus cinericula) is one of the smallest Woodpeckers in India. It grows up to size of 13 cm. It locally called as ‘Thandaan maramakothi’ (in Malayalam). It is distributed throughout the peninsular and North India and fairly common in the well wooded areas and forest edges. It is easily distinguished from other wood peckers with its brown crown, brown upperparts; evenly mottled throat with brown streaks, brown stripe behind the eye and concolorous with crown. Male has small crimson patch on sides of hind crown. They usually feed on small insects especially ants, termites and beetles, and breeds during February to May. There is fairly a good population of this tiny bird at MSSBG campus and can be spotted easily during morning hours.
Information and Photography: Mr. Nandakumar M K, Editing: Dr. Smitha S. Thankappan, Approval: Dr. N Anil Kumar