- Dendropicos fuscescens
Identification
14-15 cm. White underparts, streaked black, tawny rump, dull olive back with white spots, white throat and face, black malar stripe, brown forecrown. Male - red hind crown and nape; female - dark hindcrown, black nape. Juvenile - red hindcrown and black nape.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
Dendropicos fuscescens has nine subspecies:
- D. f. fuscescens;
- D. f. hemprichii;
- D. f. lepidus;
- D. f. intermedius;
- D. f. centralis;
- D. f. hartlaubii;
- D. f. lafresnayi;
- D. f. sharpii; and
- D. f. massaicus.
Habitat
Ranges from dense forest to dry savanna and bushland.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects.
It nests in a tree hole lined with wood chippings.
Vocalisation
Call - high-pitched krrrek-krrrek-krrrek.
References
Wikipedia
