Birds
Rufous Woodpecker
Micropternus brachyurus · also called rufous woodpeckers
Carving a nest cavity directly into an active tree ant colony, a rufous woodpecker pulls off one of the strangest nesting arrangements in the entire bird world, somehow avoiding the swarming defenders that would overwhelm almost any other creature.
Overview
The rufous woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus, is a reddish-brown woodpecker native to forest habitat across South and Southeast Asia. Its remarkable habit of nesting inside active tree ant colonies, apparent tolerance from the very ants it lives among, and reddish-brown plumage make it one of the most behaviourally bizarre and genuinely puzzling woodpeckers found anywhere in the world.
An uneasy truce with an ant colony
Exactly how the rufous woodpecker avoids becoming the target of an entire ant colony’s defences remains something of a mystery, but the arrangement clearly works well enough for the species to nest this way as standard practice.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable forest habitat throughout South and Southeast Asia.
Rufous Woodpecker: common questions
Why does the rufous woodpecker nest inside ant colonies?
This species excavates its nest cavity directly inside the active nests of tree ants, a highly unusual choice that would overwhelm most other birds, though the rufous woodpecker appears to be tolerated by the ants for reasons not fully understood.
How can you identify a rufous woodpecker?
This species has a reddish-brown body overall, a colouring that gives the species its common name, along with a relatively short tail compared to many other woodpeckers.
Do the ants ever attack the rufous woodpecker?
This species appears to be tolerated by the surrounding ants rather than attacked, though researchers have not fully explained the mechanism behind this unusual truce between bird and insect colony.
Where is the rufous woodpecker found?
This species is native to forest habitat across a broad range spanning South and Southeast Asia, favouring areas with suitable tree ant populations for both feeding and nesting.