About the Stierling's Woodpecker
Stierling's woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is native to Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania where its natural habitat is tropical dry forests in the Eastern miombo woodlands ecoregion. It is threatened by habitat destruction. The bird is named in honour of the German bird collector N. Stierling.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This woodpecker grows to a length of about 17.5 cm (7 in). The sexes are different, being distinguished by the male having a red mid-crown and nape and the female having a brown crown with pale streaks and a black nape. The upper parts of both sexes are plain olive brown and the underparts white or cream with brown markings. The face, neck, chin and throat are white. A brown band extends from the eye across the ear coverts, and a brown malar streak extends to the breast. The wings are brown above and white below, and the tail is brown with a buff tip and pale underside.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Little Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos elachusThe little grey woodpecker is a very small woodpecker, growing to a length of between 12 and 14 cm (4.7 and 5.5 in).
Gabon WoodpeckerDendropicos gabonensisThe Gabon woodpecker is a small woodpecker with a short bill which is quite broad at the base.
Abyssinian WoodpeckerDendropicos abyssinicusThe Abyssinian woodpecker is a very small woodpecker with a relatively long and broad bill.
Learn the Stierling's Woodpecker for real
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