It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The bay woodpecker's diet consists of various insects such as ants, termites and wood-boring beetles, and they will also consume berries occasionally.

[2] Female bay woodpeckers have a shorter bill than the males, as well as a pale head without any red on the neck.

[2] Bay woodpeckers are members of the Picidae bird family which also includes piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers.

[2] Bay woodpeckers are found in a variety of altitudes, ranging from as low as 50 m, and as high as 2750 m.[2] Bay woodpeckers are most commonly found in the following South Asian countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.