Bearded Woodpecker

Dendropicos namaquus

Other Names

    Pic barbu   Namaspecht   Pito Namaqua   Skäggig hackspett   Baardspecht   Picchio barbuto

World: Africa - widely distributed S of 10°S except in the very arid SW of the continent. Above 10°S it occurs in the East reaching Ethiopia, southern Sudan and western Somalia.

Kenya: Local in small numbers in bush and wooded habitats, mostly absent from the arid NE and the Lake Victoria basin.

A distinctive woodpecker which, although not very vocal, does tap very loudly. The bird pictured is a female. Both the males and females show the very broad postocular and malar stripes and white-spotted forehead but the male also has a red hind-crown. They are very shy birds and tend to fly quite long distances when disturbed.