


About the Little Grey Woodpecker
The little grey woodpecker, also known as the Sahelian woodpecker, is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan. This species is described as somewhat rare, but it has a very large range and the population appears to be steady, so 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.
ID tip
The little grey woodpecker is a very small woodpecker, growing to a length of between 12 and 14 cm (4.7 and 5.5 in). The beak is relatively long and broad. The male has a red hind crown and nape while the female lacks these. Otherwise the sexes are similar. The head is brown with a slight white supercilium and a narrow darker brown moustachial stripe. The upper parts of the body are greyish-brown barred with white and so are the wings and tail. The rump and upper tail coverts are red, which is particularly noticeable in flight. The beak is grey, the feet greenish-grey and the eye brown.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Little Grey Woodpecker lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mauritania, Chad.
When to see the Little Grey Woodpecker
Peak activity in January · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Gabon WoodpeckerDendropicos gabonensisThe Gabon woodpecker is a small woodpecker with a short bill which is quite broad at the base.
Stierling's WoodpeckerDendropicos stierlingiThis woodpecker grows to a length of about 17.5 cm (7 in).
Abyssinian WoodpeckerDendropicos abyssinicusThe Abyssinian woodpecker is a very small woodpecker with a relatively long and broad bill.
Learn the Little Grey Woodpecker in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.