Campethera notata
The Knysna Woodpecker (Campethera notata) is a striking, medium-sized avian jewel endemic to the Afromontane and coastal forests of South Africa. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm (8-9 inches) in length and weighing 45-55 grams, this species is characterized by its overall olive-green upperparts, which provide excellent camouflage amidst dense foliage. Its underparts are pale and heavily spotted with black, while the flight feathers and tail are distinctly barred. Key field marks include a yel...
Found primarily in moist Afromontane and dense coastal forests, as well as riverine thickets, especially favoring old growth with abundant dead wood. It occurs from sea level up to approximately 1400 meters elevation.
Feeds predominantly on ants and their larvae, termites, and other wood-boring insects, which it extracts by probing and gleaning bark, as well as foraging on the ground.
A diurnal species, the Knysna Woodpecker typically forages alone or in pairs, rarely joining mixed-species flocks. Its primary foraging strategy involves actively gleaning and probing bark on the lower trunks and large branches of trees, as well as frequently descending to the ground to forage am...
The Knysna Woodpecker is an endemic resident species, with its entire range confined to the fynbos and Afromontane forest regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Its distribution is highly fragmented, occurring in isolated pockets from Swellendam in the west, eastw...
Near Threatened
- The Knysna Woodpecker is one of only three Campethera species found in southern Africa, distinguishing itself by its unique range and habitat preferences. - It is strictly endemic to a relatively small and specific region of South Africa, making it a highly localized species. - Its distinctive ...