Least Concern Birds

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Small woodpecker feeding on insects in African savannas and open woodlands.

Scientific name	Dendropicos fuscescens
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Piciformes
Family	Picidae
Size	Male: approximately 18-20 cm, weight about 30-40 g; female: slightly smaller and lighter

See this species in the app

How to identify

Plumage mainly brown with spots; male has a bright red patch on the crown; short, pointed bill; short tail feathers adapted for climbing tree trunks; distinct pale eye ring

Habitat

Open savanna woodland, open forests, shrubs, and edges of farmland

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, especially beetle larvae and ants; also consumes small amounts of fruit and resin

When it is active

Diurnal, frequently active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk

Where it lives

Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and adjacent areas; common in Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Look for it at dawn or dusk in open savanna and forest edges, listening for its clear tapping sounds and calls

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture moments of climbing tree trunks and feeding on insects; shoot in good light to capture plumage details

Threats

Habitat destruction and deforestation leading to habitat loss

Similar species

Similar to other small woodpeckers such as the Little Woodpecker (Dendropicos elachus), distinguished by the male’s more prominent red crown patch and darker body coloration

📖 how to spot the cardinal woodpecker on safari