White-bellied black woodpecker (크낙새), Korean endemic species

New Habitats of White-bellied black woodpecker, khulak in Korean, (dryocopus javenis) Korean Endemic Species, are confirmed.


Ornithologists at the Central Committee of the DPRK Nature Conservation Union conducted a nationwide survey of habitats of white-bellied black woodpecker.

Living only in Korea and northern part of China, white-bellied black woodpecker is a rare bird which is under protection in the world.

Belonging to Picidae, the bird is bigger than woodpecker. Its breast, belly, rump and the tip of wings are white and other parts black. The male bird has red tuft on the head.

In this course, new habitats of the bird were confirmed in the extensive woods of Rinsan, Phyongsan and Jangphung Counties and Pakyon area of Kaesong City through which runs the range of Mt. Myolak.

White-bellied Black Woodpecker, the biggest and most beautiful of the woodpeckers, is a rare bird which lives only in Korea. Eating insects in trees including chestnut tree, it is a very useful bird protecting woods.

The government is taking necessary steps to protect and multiply the bird. As part of campaigns to raise public awareness, the science film “White-bellied black woodpecker” has been televised repeatedly and experts go among residents and students to tell them how to protect the bird in various ways.

Meanwhile, the government designated reserves at newly-discovered areas and saw to it that felling of tall trees is prohibited there.

(Pyongyang Times, June 7)

Source: Korea is one (조선은 하나다!) http://www.korea-is-one.org/