Sasia

Sasia is a genus of birds in the family Picidae, that are native to the Old World. They are very small, virtually tailless woodpeckers, with a crombec or nuthatch-like appearance and foraging habits. Their habitat is forest and secondary growth. All three species have a flesh orbital ring and a rounded (in cross-section) upper mandible. The African species has only eight rectrices but four toes in a zygodactyl arrangement (a weak first digit), while the two Asian species have ten rectrices and only three toes (absent first digit, or hallux). In addition the African species differs from the Asian species in plumage colour of the adult, but not at all in plumage pattern, body anatomy or in habits. Their relationship with genus Picumnus has not been established, and the Picumninae may be either monophyletic or paraphyletic.