Chloropicus namaquus
The Bearded Woodpecker, *Chloropicus namaquus*, is a strikingly large and robust woodpecker, typically measuring 24-27 cm (9.4-10.6 inches) in length and weighing between 90-120 grams. Males are particularly distinctive, boasting a bright red crown and nape, a prominent black malar stripe resembling a 'beard' (hence the name), and a contrasting white supercilium. Their upperparts are predominantly black with fine white barring, while the underparts are a pale yellow-green, often with faint da...
Found primarily in open woodlands, savannas, Mopane and Acacia woodlands, and riverine forests. It occupies elevations from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
Feeds predominantly on insect larvae, adult beetles, ants, and termites, extracted from wood; occasionally consumes small reptiles or fruit.
The Bearded Woodpecker is a diurnal species, spending its days actively foraging and roosting in excavated tree cavities at night. It employs typical woodpecker foraging strategies, meticulously climbing tree trunks and branches, probing bark crevices, and excavating wood with its powerful chisel...
The Bearded Woodpecker boasts a broad distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, spanning from southern Angola and Namibia eastward. Its range extends through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, reaching into the northern and eastern provinces of South Africa, particularly Limpopo, M...
Least Concern
- The Bearded Woodpecker is one of the largest and most powerful woodpeckers found throughout its extensive African range. - Its formidable bill is capable of excavating wood hard enough to dull other tools, allowing it to access deep-boring insect larvae. - The male's prominent black malar strip...