Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Grey Woodpecker
Dendropicos spodocephalus
Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus) — 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 Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 47.3 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 spodocephalus
Where it lives
Highlands of north-central Tanzania and central Kenya to eastern Sudan and central Ethiopia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 47.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
Where it spends much of its time perched among vegetation.
Migration
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Highlands of nc Tanzania and c Kenya to e Sudan and c Ethiopia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 47.3 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 595,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Grey Woodpecker?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 47.3 g.
Where does the Eastern Grey Woodpecker live?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF Highlands of nc Tanzania and c Kenya to e Sudan and c Ethiopia.
What family does the Eastern Grey Woodpecker belong to?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Eastern Grey Woodpecker eat?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eastern Grey Woodpecker migrate?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern 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 Eastern Grey Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Grey Woodpecker can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Grey Woodpecker's range?
The Eastern Grey Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 595,000 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.