Photo: Allan Drewitt / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Abyssinian Woodpecker
Dendropicos abyssinicus
Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
The Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Dendropicos
- Species abyssinicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, part of the order Piciformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane c Eritrea and c Ethiopia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.4 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 360,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Abyssinian Woodpecker?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 24.4 g.
Where does the Abyssinian Woodpecker live?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane c Eritrea and c Ethiopia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Abyssinian Woodpecker belong to?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Abyssinian Woodpecker eat?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Abyssinian Woodpecker migrate?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Abyssinian Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Abyssinian Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Abyssinian Woodpecker — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Abyssinian Woodpecker's range?
The Abyssinian Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 360,000 km².
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.