Cardinal Woodpecker

The Cardinal Woodpecker is among the smallest and most widely distributed woodpeckers in sub-Saharan Africa, occurring in an extensive range of wooded habitats from thornveld and savanna to gardens. Its name refers to the male's red crown patch rather than any resemblance to true cardinals, and its small size and fine, delicate patterning make it easily overlooked despite its abundance.

Its adaptability to a wide range of wooded habitats, including gardens and disturbed woodland, has helped it remain common across much of its range.

Key features:

• Upperpart feathers are brownish-olive to blackish-brown with fine white or buff barring
• Underparts are pale with dark streaking rather than barring
• Males show red on the rear crown and nape, while females have a plain blackish crown finely spotted, with no red
• Very small overall size distinguishes it from larger African woodpeckers

Compared to similar species: its notably small size combined with fine barring above and streaking (rather than barring) below separates it from most other African woodpeckers, which tend to be larger or more boldly patterned.

Sexual dimorphism is confined to the crown, with males showing red on the rear crown and nape and females showing a plain blackish, finely spotted crown without red. Interestingly, juveniles of both sexes typically show some red on the crown, which is lost or reduced after the first molt in females. A complete annual molt follows breeding.

This species is extremely widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, occurring in woodland, savanna, thornveld, and gardens. It is highly adaptable to varied wooded habitats and is a non-migratory resident throughout its range.

Cardinal Woodpeckers forage actively on thin branches and twigs as well as trunks, feeding on ants, termites, and other insects. Their calls are high-pitched, and drumming is relatively light compared to larger woodpeckers. Nest cavities are excavated in dead branches or trunks, often quite small in diameter given the bird's tiny size.