Cardinal Woodpecker

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Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Cardinal Woodpecker

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Cardinal Woodpecker

The map shades 35 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Mali, South Sudan.

About the Cardinal Woodpecker

The cardinal woodpecker is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dense forest to thorn bush. It is fairly vocal and is easily identified by its call notes. The sexes are distinguishable by their head patterns. They feed primarily on tree-boring insects; using their adhering tongues they extract the insects from holes in wood or bark.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Olive WoodpeckerDendropicos griseocephalusThe olive woodpecker is mostly plain, and lacks many of the patterns typically observed in other woodpecker species. African Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos goertaeLike other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl or "yoked" feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. Eastern Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos spodocephalusLike other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl or "yoked" feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward.

Side by side: Cardinal Woodpecker vs Olive Woodpecker · African Grey Woodpecker vs Cardinal Woodpecker · Cardinal Woodpecker vs Eastern Grey Woodpecker