Chloropicus namaquus (A.A.H.Lichtenstein, 1793)

Nomenclature and Size

The bearded woodpecker (scientific name Chloropicus namaquus (A.A.H.Lichtenstein, 1793)) is one of the largest woodpecker species native to Africa, reaching an adult length of approximately 25 cm (10 in).

Head Pattern

It has a distinctive head pattern: a black moustache, a broad black eye-stripe, and a black crown, which contrast with a white supercilium, white face, white chin, and white throat.

Sexual Dimorphism

The male has a red hind crown that is absent in the female.

Upper Body Plumage

Its mantle is black, and the rest of the upper body is yellowish-brown with narrow white barring.

Tail Morphology

The tail is brown with white barring, and its tail feathers have yellowish shafts.

Underpart Plumage

The underparts are grey with narrow white barring.

Beak and Soft Part Features

This species has a large greyish-black beak, grey legs, and red eyes.

Juvenile Features

Juvenile bearded woodpeckers resemble adults, but their upper parts have a greenish tinge and more diffuse barring, and both sexes have some red coloring on the crown and nape.

Geographic Range

This woodpecker is found in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Habitat Types

It occupies a wide range of habitat types, including woodland with large trees, Brachystegia woodland, Euphorbia and Acacia woodland, gallery forest fringes, and brushland.

Altitudinal Range

It occurs from lowlands up to altitudes of approximately 3,000 m (10,000 ft).

Foraging Group Behavior

Bearded woodpeckers often forage in pairs, where members communicate vocally and flick their wings while calling.

Foraging Technique

Each individual spends a long time on a single tree, hammering, probing, and pecking with its beak to glean any stray insects it finds, before flying to another often distant tree.

Diet Composition

Its diet includes insects and their larvae, spiders, caterpillars, and ants, and it has been recorded catching geckos and small lizards.

Drumming Behavior

This species often drums loudly on branches, finishing each drum-roll with four taps.

Nest Site Characteristics

It drills its nest hole in dead wood, up to 20 m (70 ft) above the ground.

Clutch Size

The average clutch size is three eggs.

Incubation Details

Both parents take part in incubation, which lasts thirteen days.

Chick Rearing

Both adults care for the chicks, which remain in the nest for around four weeks before fledging.