African Piculet
Verreauxia africana
African Piculet (Verreauxia africana) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
The African Piculet (Verreauxia africana) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.4 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 Verreauxia
- Species africana
Where it lives
Sierra Leone to Ghana; Cameroon to western Uganda, central DR Congo and northern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Piculet 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 African Piculet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Piculet (Verreauxia africana) belongs to the Picidae family of the order Piciformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to Ghana; Cameroon to w Uganda, c DR Congo and n Angola.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.4 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 1.7 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 2.5 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Piculet?
The African Piculet is a very small bird that weighs around 9.4 g.
Where does the African Piculet live?
The African Piculet is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to Ghana; Cameroon to w Uganda, c DR Congo and n Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the African Piculet belong to?
The African Piculet (Verreauxia africana) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the African Piculet eat?
The African Piculet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Piculet migrate?
The African Piculet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Piculet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the African Piculet's range?
The African Piculet has a mapped global range of about 2.5 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.