Gabon Woodpecker
Dendropicos gabonensis
A medium-sized woodpecker of forest edge, often seen probing and prying into wood for insects. Shows a solid green back and upper tail, a red crown, dark cheeks, and heavily spotted or streaked underparts. This combination of plumage characteristics is unique within its range, where other green-backed woodpeckers co-occur. Call is a buzzing “z-zeep” or a repeated harsh “zaa zaa.”
Identification
The Gabon woodpecker is a small woodpecker with a short bill which is quite broad at the base. It has plain green upperparts, a plain dark tail and heavily spotted underparts with a yellowish background colour. The crown is brownish but the males have a red hindcrown and nape, as well as an indistinct, narrow moustachial. The adult females lack red on the head, however both sexes of juveniles have red on the centre of the crown. The subspecies D.g. reichenowihas a more distinct moustachial stripe, broader underpart streaking and a lesser extent of red on the adult male's head than the nominate subspecies. They are 16–17 cm in length and weigh 24–30 g.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Dendropicos gabonensis
- Authority
- (Verreaux, J & Verreaux, É, 1851)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
- Genus
- Dendropicos
Range and habitat
The Gabon woodpecker occurs in forest edge, tall secondary growth and the wooded edges of farmland, normally lower than 1400m above sea level. It avoids dense forest and savannas.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
Slender and streaked pipit. Feeds on the ground like other pipits, but perches readily in trees or bushes when singing, or alights in tree at end of parachuting song flight. As the name suggests, usually associated with trees (on breeding grounds), but also found in agricultural areas and grassy scrub in winter. All pipits look rather similar and are best identified to species by combination of habitat and voice: Tree Pipit call a high, shrill, buzzy "tzzz"; song more melodic and varied than Meadow Pipit song.
Subtropical Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium parkeri
Rarely encountered owl found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes. Small with a round head, yellow eyes, white-speckled crown, and white bands on wings and tail. Overall plumage coloration ranges from brown to bright cinnamon. Similar to Andean Pygmy-Owl, but smaller, with a shorter tail that typically shows at most two white bands. Identification should be confirmed by voice; song is a series of three toots repeated every few seconds.
Rusty-bellied Shortwing
Brachypteryx hyperythra
A very small, dark bird of dark undergrowth in evergreen forests. The male has gray-blue upperparts, bright orange underparts, and a short white eyebrow. The female is grayish-brown above, with duller orangish underparts. Very shy and inconspicuous. The jingling song consists of high-pitched, bell-like, tinkling notes that accelerate rapidly towards the end.
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