Adult Male:
The crown and crest on the nape are a vivid red, with black bases to the feathers. The neck and upper back are black. The back, shoulders, wing coverts, and outer vanes of the tertiary feathers are saffron yellow, with green-yellow patches interspersed. The lower back and flanks are red, and the rump and tail are black. The wing coverts at the wing edges are black. The underwing is black with white barring on the inner vanes. The tail is black.
There is a narrow black stripe above the eye, and another black stripe begins behind the eye and extends across the ear to the neck. The remaining area on the sides of the neck is white. The chin and throat are brown or pale tawny, with three black stripes: one down the center and two on either side. The belly feathers are tawny or pale brown, each edged with black, with narrow borders on the abdomen and flanks.
Female:
The crown and crest on the nape are black with white markings. The eyes are brown. The beak is grayish-black. The legs are pale brown.
Measurements:
- Wing: 136 – 165 mm
- Tail: 89 – 102 mm
- Tarsus: 23 – 24 mm
- Beak: 27 – 30 mm
Distribution:
The Lesser Yellownape ( Picus chlorolophus ) is distributed in Myanmar, Thailand, southwestern China, and Indochina.
Vietnam: This species is found in Bac Can, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Tri, Kon Tum (Dak To), Lam Dong, Bien Hoa, and Thu Dau Mot.