Sasia


Sasia is a genus of birds in the woodpecker family Picidae, that are native to the Old World. They are very small, virtually tailless woodpeckers, with a crombec or nuthatch-like appearance and foraging habits. Their habitat is forest and secondary growth.
These species have a flesh orbital ring and a rounded upper mandible. They have ten rectrices and only three toes.
The African piculet has sometimes been included in this genus. It has only eight rectrices and four toes in a zygodactyl arrangement. It differs from the Asian species in the plumage colour of the adult, but not in the plumage pattern, body anatomy or in habits.

Species

The genus contains two species:
ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Rufous piculetSasia abnormismainly Malaysia and Indonesia
White-browed piculetSasia ochraceamainland Southeast Asia