Yellow-crested Woodpecker
Chloropicus xantholophus
Yellow-crested Woodpecker (Chloropicus xantholophus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker (Chloropicus xantholophus) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 81.5 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Chloropicus
- Species xantholophus
Where it lives
Southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon to western Kenya, eastern DR Congo and northern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 81.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker (Chloropicus xantholophus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to w Kenya, e DR Congo and n Angola.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 81.5 g, with a wing length of about 11.1 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-crested Woodpecker?
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 81.5 g.
Where does the Yellow-crested Woodpecker live?
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to w Kenya, e DR Congo and n Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Yellow-crested Woodpecker belong to?
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker (Chloropicus xantholophus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Yellow-crested Woodpecker eat?
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Yellow-crested Woodpecker migrate?
The Yellow-crested Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Yellow-crested Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-crested Woodpecker — including its drumming — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.