The northern sooty woodpecker (Mulleripicus funebris) is a species of bird in the family Picidae.It is endemic to Luzon, Marinduque, Catanduanes and the Polillo Islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.
The northern sooty woodpecker was once considered conspecific with the southern sooty woodpecker and both were lumped together as Mulleripicus funebris and known simply as the "sooty woodpecker".
EBird describes the bird as "A large woodpecker of foothill forest on Luzon and neighboring islands. Entirely black with a long pointed tail, fine speckling on the neck, pale eyes, and a yellow bill. Male has a reddish face. Males on Polillo have a gray crown. Occurs together with White-bellied Woodpecker and Luzon Flameback, but has a dark belly. Voice includes a loud, quavering squeal. Gives powerful drums.[1]
They exhibit sexual dimorphism in which males have red facial markings.Typically seen alone or as a pair. Presumed to feed mainly on invertibrates. The breeding season is reported as March to May.[2]
Found in primary forest, mature secondary forest typically in below 1,000 masl but has been seen as high as 1,600masl. Forages in upper storeys in tall trees but also goes down to the understorey, on tree trunks and large limbs.
IUCN has assessed this bird as a near-threatened species with the population said to be decreasing. This species' main threat is habitat loss.[3]