African Grey Woodpecker
Dendropicos goertae
African Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) — 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 African Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 44.5 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 goertae
Where it lives
Mauritania and Senegal to western Ethiopia to northwestern Tanzania, southern Gabon, northwestern Angola and south-central DR Congo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 44.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Grey 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 African Grey Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) is a species of bird in the Picidae family, part of the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Mauritania and Senegal to w Ethiopia to nw Tanzania, s Gabon, nw Angola and sc DR Congo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 44.5 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 5.9 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 7.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Grey Woodpecker?
The African Grey Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 44.5 g.
Where does the African Grey Woodpecker live?
The African Grey Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF Mauritania and Senegal to w Ethiopia to nw Tanzania, s Gabon, nw Angola and sc DR Congo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the African Grey Woodpecker belong to?
The African Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the African Grey Woodpecker eat?
The African Grey Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Grey Woodpecker migrate?
The African Grey Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Grey 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 African Grey Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the African Grey Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Grey Woodpecker's range?
The African Grey Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 7.5 million 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.