Olive Woodpecker
Dendropicos griseocephalus
The Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus) is a uncommon woodpecker found in 16 countries, weighing about 41 g. The olive woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae.
About the Olive Woodpecker
The olive woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is in the Dendropicos genus, which comprises small woodpeckers native to Sub-Saharan Africa. There are three described subspecies, all inhabiting various regions of southeast Africa; the red-bellied olive woodpecker, the montane olive woodpecker, and the southern olive woodpecker.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The olive woodpecker is mostly plain, and lacks many of the patterns typically observed in other woodpecker species. It is characterized by a bright scarlet rump and upper-tail coverts, better revealed in flight. These scarlet feathers often have grey bases, and black subterminal bars. It has a darkish grey forecrown, hindneck, chin and neck, sometimes with black markings on its forehead. The olive woodpecker's belly is dark grey and olive coloured, with lighter golden tones on the breast. It displays a red or pink belly-patch which can vary in size. Voice: The olive woodpecker is known to give many different vocalizations. This woodpecker produces a short, nasally 3 to 4 note whistle "whee-whee-whee" . It is also known to emit a mocking or quivering "yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh". Sometimes, the olive woodpecker can also produce a squeaky "tweet-tweet-tweet". Within groups, these woodpeckers conversate with "pep" or "pep-pep-pep" notes.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Olive Woodpecker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Olive Woodpecker?
- The olive woodpecker is mostly plain, and lacks many of the patterns typically observed in other woodpecker species. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Olive Woodpecker?
- The Olive Woodpecker is a small sized bird weighing about 41 g.
- Where can you see an Olive Woodpecker?
- The Olive Woodpecker occurs in 16 countries, including South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and Eswatini.
- What birds look similar to an Olive Woodpecker?
- The Olive Woodpecker is most easily confused with the African Grey Woodpecker, the Eastern Grey Woodpecker and the Brown-backed Woodpecker.
- Is the Olive Woodpecker endangered?
- The Olive Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Olive Woodpecker for real
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