The White-bellied Woodpecker or Great Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis, is found in evergreen forests. They are occur in 15 subspecies in the forests from the Western Ghats in India to China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Korea. The very rare Korean subspecies is called Tristram's Woodpecker. They are the largest of the Asiatic woodpeckers (between 42 and 48 centimetres) and nest in large dead trees, often beside rivers.

The call of this species is a loud 'Kyaaw' and like other woodpeckers it drums on wood but sounds much louder than those of smaller species.

Cotigao NP, Goa, India Nov 1997

Male, Philippines

Male, Philippines

Subspecies

The following subspecies are known:

• Dryocopus javensis cebuensis Kennedy, 1987
• Dryocopus javensis confusus (Stresemann, 1913)
• Dryocopus javensis esthloterus Parkes, 1971
• Dryocopus javensis feddeni (Blyth, 1863)
• Dryocopus javensis forresti Rothschild, 1922
• Dryocopus javensis hargitti (Sharpe, 1884)
• Dryocopus javensis hodgsonii (Jerdon, 1840)
• Dryocopus javensis javensis (Horsfield, 1821)
• Dryocopus javensis mindorensis (Steere, 1890)
• Dryocopus javensis multilunatus (McGregor, 1907)
• Dryocopus javensis parvus (Richmond, 1902)
• Dryocopus javensis pectoralis (Tweeddale, 1878)
• Dryocopus javensis philippinensis (Steere, 1890)
• Dryocopus javensis richardsi Tristram, 1879 -- Tristam's Woodpecker
• Dryocopus javensis suluensis (W. Blasius, 1890)