





About the Elliot's Woodpecker
Elliot's woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It has an extremely wide range and is described as an uncommon species. However, no particular threats to this species have been established, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Elliot's woodpecker is a medium-sized species growing to a length of between 20 and 22 cm (8 and 9 in). The face is buff with a black forehead and front part of the crown, and a white neck and throat, narrowly streaked with olive. The male has a red rear part of the crown and a red nape. The female lacks the red crown and nape, having a black crown and nape instead. Both sexes have plain green upper parts with a bronze or brownish tinge. The wings and upper side of the tail are brown, the feathers of the former having bronze-green margins, and the latter having green edges.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Central African Republic.
When to see it
Peak activity in July · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Brown-backed WoodpeckerDendropicos obsoletusThe brown-backed woodpecker is a small species, growing to a length of between 13 and 16 cm (5.1 and 6.3 in).
Melancholy WoodpeckerDendropicos lugubrisThe melancholy woodpecker is 17–18 cm (6.7–7.1 in) long.
Speckle-breasted WoodpeckerDendropicos poecilolaemusThe speckle-breasted woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae, which is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Learn the Elliot's Woodpecker for real
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