Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)
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Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens (Vieillot, 1818)

26 gWeight

The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Cardinal Woodpecker has been recorded at 445 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 29 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa413 records
  2. Nairobi NPKenya369 records
  3. Kakamega Forest NR – Rondo Retreat CentreKenya271 records
More places
  1. Lake Mburo NPUganda248 records
  2. Samburu NRKenya236 records
  3. Kruger NP – Satara CampSouth Africa231 records
  4. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa229 records
  5. Lake Nakuru NPKenya216 records
  6. Buffalo Springs NRKenya211 records
  7. Kakamega Forest NRKenya200 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaUgandaNamibiaZambiaZimbabweBotswana

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dense forest to thorn bush. It is fairly vocal and is easily identified by its call notes.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Cardinal Woodpecker?

The Cardinal Woodpecker weighs around 26 g.

Where does the Cardinal Woodpecker live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

When is the best time to see the Cardinal Woodpecker?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Cardinal Woodpecker endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Cardinal Woodpecker as Least Concern.

What does the Cardinal Woodpecker eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Cardinal Woodpecker in?

It belongs to the family Woodpeckers (Picidae), order Piciformes.

At a glance

Weight
26 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
92 mm
Tail
48 mm
Bill
20 mm
Tarsus
16 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Woodpeckers Picidae
Genus
Dendropicos

Other birds in the genus Dendropicos

Little Grey WoodpeckerLittle Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos elachusSpeckle-breasted WoodpeckerSpeckle-breasted WoodpeckerDendropicos poecilolaemusAbyssinian WoodpeckerAbyssinian WoodpeckerDendropicos abyssinicusGabon WoodpeckerGabon WoodpeckerDendropicos gabonensisMelancholy WoodpeckerMelancholy WoodpeckerDendropicos lugubrisStierling's WoodpeckerStierling's WoodpeckerDendropicos stierlingiElliot's WoodpeckerElliot's WoodpeckerDendropicos elliotiiAfrican Grey WoodpeckerAfrican Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos goertaeEastern Grey WoodpeckerEastern Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos spodocephalusOlive WoodpeckerOlive WoodpeckerDendropicos griseocephalusBrown-backed WoodpeckerBrown-backed WoodpeckerDendropicos obsoletus
Cardinal Woodpecker

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Joseph Morlan. ↗

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