Story: Du Muc
Photos: Thuan Vo, Vu Minh Tuan

Woodpeckers are familiar birds in Vietnam, found in a wide range of habitats, from the rugged, cold environments of Mount Fansipan’s peak to the plains, marshes, and mangrove forests of Ca Mau. They can even be spotted on distant islands like Con Dao and Phu Quoc.

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

Woodpeckers adapt well to a wide range of climates and terrains. Most species specialize in feeding on insects that parasitize plants and trees, making them common in diverse forest habitats. For instance, the Speckled Piculet, the White-browed Piculet  feeds on parasitic worms found on broom reed stems, while the Pale-headed Woodpecker  prefers insects that infest bamboo. Some species, like the Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, even feed on nectar. The Rufous-bellied Woodpecker consumes sap from tree trunks by creating intentional wounds in the trunks.

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Some woodpecker species can survive in urban areas such as Ho Chi Minh City, where there are green parks. The more trees, the more woodpeckers there will be. In areas with rice fields, grasslands, or other crops with no large trees, woodpeckers are rare due to a lack of places to nest and forage. Woodpeckers favor dry, hot areas with many large or dead trees as these environments allow insects to thrive, providing them with an abundant food source.

In Vietnam, the region with the most abundant variety and density of these birds is Yok Don National Park. The deciduous forests provide a large food supply and ideal nesting habitats for many woodpecker species.

Black-headed Woodpecker

Join Heritage in admiring this collection of woodpecker photos painstakingly captured by photographers Thuan Vo and Vu Minh Tuan over many years.

According to scientists, Vietnam has around 27 woodpecker species, accounting for more than 10% of the world’s total of 240 species. Woodpeckers are found worldwide except for Antarctica, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and its nearby island nations.