About the Ground Woodpecker
The ground woodpecker is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world. It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa. It is found in a broad swath running from southwest to northeast, from the Cape Peninsula and Namaqualand to Mpumalanga. It is closely related to the woodpeckers of the genus Campethera, some of which also employ terrestrial foraging strategies.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The ground woodpecker is probably the largest woodpecker in Africa, measuring 22 to 30 cm (8.7 to 11.8 in) in length and weighing around 120 g (4.2 oz) on average. The upper parts are greyish-brown with pale spotting, and the rump is red and more visible in flight. The upper sides of wings and tail are brown barred with white. The underparts are buff, flushed with pink or red. The underside of the tail is pale brown, barred with paler colour. The beak is black, long and slender, the irises pink or yellow and the legs grey.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Ground Woodpecker lives
When to see the Ground Woodpecker
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Jamaican WoodpeckerMelanerpes radiolatusThe Jamaican woodpecker is about 24 to 26 cm (9.4 to 10 in) long and weighs 92 to 131 g (3.2 to 4.6 oz).
Variable WoodpeckerCeleus undatusThe waved woodpecker is about 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10.2 in) long and weighs 61 to 87 g (2.2 to 3.1 oz).
Powerful WoodpeckerCampephilus pollensThe powerful woodpecker is about 32 cm (13 in) long.
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