Mombasa Woodpecker
Campethera mombassica
An attractive medium-sized woodpecker with a lightly speckled olive-green back and black-striped pale underparts. Males have a red crown, nape, and moustache streak; females have a spotted dark green crown and a red nape. Both sexes have a pale, lightly speckled throat. Found in coastal forest and moist woodland. Similar to Golden-tailed Woodpecker, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and Mombasa is easily distinguished by the pale throat and the spotted rather than barred back. Fairly similar to Reichenow’s Woodpecker, but distinguished by the striped rather than spotted breast. The vocalizations include a repeated “kree” call and a raspy, trilled “krrrrr.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Campethera mombassica
- Authority
- (Fischer, GA & Reichenow, 1884)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
- Genus
- Campethera
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Nilgiri Flycatcher
Eumyias albicaudatus
Entirely indigo-blue male is unique; Verditer Flycatcher is brighter blue and more elongated. Female Nilgiri is gray overall, though can sometimes show a bluish tinge in good lighting. Song consists of a lengthy series of various whistles and warbled notes, typically given from an exposed perch by both sexes. Sallies from perches in hill forest and forest edge; most common above 1200 meters.
African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
Small brown and reddish waxbill with a blue-gray bill and black under the tail. Varies geographically, but in many areas, has a mostly gray head. Found along forest edge and in cultivation, thick woodland, and scrub. Usually in pairs or small groups. Call is a short, low trill. Quiet song is a mix of low trills and much higher-pitched whines and whistles. Similar to Red-billed and Bar-breasted firefinches but shows black under the tail. Subspecies without gray on the head can be extremely similar to Jameson’s Firefinch, but they are darker and less pinkish overall.
Chatham Islands Oystercatcher
Haematopus chathamensis
Stocky wader with distinctive pied plumage, red eye surrounded by orange eye-ring, orange bill, and pink legs and feet in adults. Juvenile birds have paler skin and dark tip to bill. Found around rocky and sandy coasts of the Chatham Islands. Most often seen in pairs. Gives a high-pitched piping call in territorial defense and courtship. Chatham Oystercatcher distinguished from South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) by smaller size and smudged border between black and white on breast.
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