Campethera mombassica
The Mombasa Woodpecker, *Campethera mombassica*, is a striking member of the Picidae family, showcasing a vibrant palette of olive-green and gold. Measuring around 20-22 cm (8-8.5 inches) in length and weighing 50-70 grams, its upperparts are a rich golden-olive, contrasting with a prominent red rump and heavily spotted, yellowish-green underparts. Distinctive field marks include a pale eye, a narrow black malar stripe, and significant sexual dimorphism in head plumage: males boast a full red...
Primarily inhabits dry to moist woodlands, savannas, coastal scrub, and dense thickets, preferring low to mid-elevation areas up to 1,200 meters.
Feeds predominantly on arboreal insects, especially ants and termites, supplemented by beetle larvae and occasionally small fruits or nectar.
The Mombasa Woodpecker is a diurnal and generally solitary bird, though it may forage in pairs. Its foraging strategy is diverse, involving extensive probing and gleaning on tree trunks, branches, and often the ground, where it specifically targets ant and termite mounds. It moves with characteri...
The Mombasa Woodpecker is endemic to East Africa, primarily distributed along the coastal and sub-coastal regions. Its breeding range extends from extreme southern Somalia, through eastern Kenya, and into northeastern Tanzania. This distribution typically follows a narrow band of dry woodland, sa...
Least Concern
- The Mombasa Woodpecker often forages on the ground, a trait shared with several other *Campethera* species, earning some the nickname 'ground woodpeckers. - Its specialized barbed tongue, up to several centimeters long, can extend far beyond its bill to extract insects from crevices and tunnels...