Levaillant's Woodpecker

Picus vaillantii

Woodpeckers · Piciformes · Rare

The Levaillant's Woodpecker (Picus vaillantii) is a rare woodpecker found in 4 countries, weighing about 176 g. Levaillant's woodpecker or Levaillant's green woodpecker, is a large African member of the woodpecker family Picidae.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebrateswoodlandcavity nest176 g

About the Levaillant's Woodpecker

Levaillant's woodpecker or Levaillant's green woodpecker, is a large African member of the woodpecker family Picidae.

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

How to identify it

Levaillant's woodpecker is 30–33 cm in length with a 45–51 cm wingspan. It is very similar to the European green woodpecker and the Iberian Green woodpecker (especially females). Both Levaillant's woodpecker and the Iberian Green woodpecker were formerly considered subspecies of P. viridis. Levaillant's woodpecker is dark green above and yellowish green below, with a crimson nape. The black moustache has a pale border above. The rump is chrome yellow and the outer webs of the primaries are barred black and white. The bill and feet are slate grey.

Where it lives

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Levaillant's Woodpecker?
Levaillant's woodpecker is 30–33 cm in length with a 45–51 cm wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Levaillant's Woodpecker?
The Levaillant's Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 176 g.
Where can you see a Levaillant's Woodpecker?
The Levaillant's Woodpecker occurs in 4 countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Spain and Tunisia.
What birds look similar to a Levaillant's Woodpecker?
The Levaillant's Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Streak-breasted Woodpecker, the Black-headed Woodpecker and the Red-collared Woodpecker.
Is the Levaillant's Woodpecker endangered?
The Levaillant's Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Levaillant's Woodpecker for real

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