Buff-spotted Woodpecker
NameBuff-spotted Woodpecker
Common NameBuff-spotted Woodpecker
Scientific NameCampethera nivosa
FamilyPicidae
Wingspan (cm)26
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)35
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-green, heavily spotted with buff or yellowish-white, giving a mottled appearance. Underparts are paler, also extensively spotted. The head is duller, finely spotted, and males possess a distinctive red malar stripe (mustache) which is absent in females.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a series of high-pitched, rapid 'wick-wick-wick' notes that often accelerate, as well as various chattering calls and drumming sounds.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone in the west, east through countries like Nigeria and Cameroon, to Uganda, and south into Angola and Zambia.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Olive-green plumage with extensive buff/yellowish spotting, Males have a red malar stripe, Prefers dense undergrowth and smaller branches for foraging
Description
The Buff-spotted Woodpecker is a small, cryptically colored woodpecker found in the understory of African forests. It typically forages quietly on smaller branches and vines, often overlooked due to its drab plumage and secretive nature.
