Campethera nubica
The Nubian Woodpecker (*Campethera nubica*) is a striking medium-sized woodpecker, typically measuring between 20-22 cm (7.9-8.7 in) in length. Its plumage is predominantly olive-green on the upperparts, contrasting with a vibrant yellow-green rump, and its underparts are whitish or pale yellow, heavily adorned with bold black spotting or barring. Distinctive field marks include a pale eye, a prominent pale supercilium, and a dark line running through the eye. Sexual dimorphism is evident in ...
Found primarily in savanna, open woodlands, acacia bushlands, and riverine forest edges, often at low to mid-elevations up to 2,000 meters.
Primarily consumes ants and termites, which it extracts from both trees and the ground. It also feeds on other insects and their larvae, occasionally supplementing its diet with berries.
This diurnal woodpecker is typically observed singly or in pairs, diligently foraging throughout the day. Its foraging strategy is remarkably flexible, gleaning insects from tree bark and branches, but also frequently descending to the ground to probe for prey, a distinctive habit among woodpecke...
The Nubian Woodpecker is a resident species widely distributed across East Africa. Its breeding range extends from eastern Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, south through Djibouti, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. Isolated populations also occur in the extreme eastern Democratic...
Least Concern
- Unlike many woodpeckers, the Nubian Woodpecker spends a significant amount of its foraging time on the ground, especially searching for ants and termites. - Its bill is not as robustly chisel-shaped as some other woodpeckers, being better adapted for probing and excavating softer wood or termit...