Bennett's woodpecker

Appearance

Bennett's woodpecker is about 24 cm long and weighs 61–84 g. The male's forehead, crown and nape are red. The chin and throat are white. The upperparts are brown, yellow and white. The underparts are pale yellow, and there are dark spots on the breast and flanks. The eyes are red, the beak is grey, and the legs are bluish-green or grey-green. The female has a black forehead with white spots, and its ear coverts and throat are brown or blackish-brown. The juvenile bird has a black forehead and crown and darker upperparts. The subspecies "capricorni" is slightly larger, and its underparts have a deeper colour and fewer spots.

Distribution

This woodpecker is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and it has a patchy distribution. Its habitat is woodlands and bushes, including miombo, "Baikiaea", "Acacia" and mopane woodlands.

Status

The species has a stable population and there is no evidence of substantial threats, so the IUCN has assessed it as a least-concern species.

Behavior

Bennett's woodpecker is found singly, in pairs or in family groups. It mostly forages on the ground, either bare or with short grass, and also feeds in trees. It mostly eats ants and termites, including their eggs. Its calls include "chuur" notes, a series of "wi-wi-wi-wi", "kee-kee-kee" or "ddrahh, ddrahh, ddray-ay, ddray-ay", and a chattering "wirrit-wirrit". Breeding occurs from August to February. The woodpecker excavates or reuses holes in trees. Three eggs are laid and then incubated for 15 to 18 days.

Habitat

This woodpecker is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and it has a patchy distribution. Its habitat is woodlands and bushes, including miombo, "Baikiaea", "Acacia" and mopane woodlands.