EBird describes the bird as "A small woodpecker of lowland wooded areas on the Sulu Islands. Dark brown above with some white spots on the back, a white rump, throat, and underparts with faint streaking, and buffy sides of the chest. Note the alternating dark brown and white stripes on the head, with a dark forecrown. Hind crown is dark in females and bright red in males. Unmistakable. No other similarly sized woodpeckers occur in its range. Voice includes a series of rapid notes in a forceful trill."[2][3]
The species is named after Captain Wardlaw Ramsay from whose collection the species was described by Hargitt. Specimens were claimed to have been obtained from Borneo but the locality was not certain until new specimens were obtained from Sulu Island by Guillemard.[4]
Ecology and behavior
The security situation in the Sulu archipelago has prevented researchers from studying this bird. It is pressumed to have a similar diet as the Philippine pygmy woodpecker and Sunda pygmy woodpecker both of which feed on insects. Forages alone or in pairs but also joins mixed flocks. This species is observed foraging on dead tree branches.
There is no information at all on its breeding habits.[5]
Habitat and conservation status
It inhabits forest clearings, forest edge, mangroves and cultivated areas, in addition to primary forest, although it has been speculated that it avoids dense forest. It is seen in altitudes up to 550 meters above sea level.[6] However, its habitat preferences are poorly understood. Its tolerance of degraded habitats implies that it should be more numerous than is the case.
The IUCN Red List classifies this bird as a vulnerable with population estimates of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals. Although this species is supposedly more tolerant of habitat degradation, it is still threatened by habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining, conversion into farmlands or palm oil plantations and urbanization. Due to the rapid loss of habitat in the Sulu Archipelago, many of the birds endemic to the region like the Sulu hornbill, Tawitawi brown dove, Blue-winged racket-tail, Sulu hawk-owl are all threatened with extinction.
There are no species specific conservation programs going on at the moment but conservation actions proposed include more species surveys to better understand habitat and population. Lobby for protection of remaining forest. Continue to expand environmental awareness programs and raise the species profile and instill pride in locals
