- Dendropicos lugubris
Chloropicus lugubris
Identification
17-18 cm (6.75-7.125 ins)
Male
- Olive-brown forehead and crown
- Red nape
- Thin white supercilium
- Brown ear-coverts
- White sides to neck
- Broad white face stripe
Distribution
Found in West Africa from Sierra Leone to southeast Ghana, south Nigeria and southwest Cameroon.
Taxonomy
Some authorities place this species in Chloropicus.
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Generally lowlands to 1200 m, but above 1300 m in Liberia. Open forest, clearings, forest edges, gallery and swamp forests, also gardens and exotic plantations in West Africa.
Behaviour
Breeding
October to March or April. Nest holes are at 15-30 m in dead tree trunks and branches. No other information is available.
Diet
This woodpecker forages in the canopy, gleaning and probing for its food, rather than hammering or pecking at the bark. Consumes insects, ants and beetle larvae.
Vocalisation
The usual call is a fast rattle and drawn out buzzing, also a low pa-bit and pit when meeting other woodpeckers.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Melancholy Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melancholy_Woodpecker
External Links
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
Search the Gallery using the scientific name Chloropicus lugubris:
Search the Gallery using the common name:
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